Network Rail bosses have announced they are going to forego their bonuses and instead, put the money back into rail safety.

Network Rail bosses, including chief executive Sir David Higgins, have said they will not accept bonuses this year.

Maria Eagle MP, Labour's Shadow Transport Secretary, responding to news that Network Rail directors will give up bonuses, said:

Chief executive of Network Rail announces that he and his directors will give up their bonuses, following political pressure over how much company bosses are paid.

The shadow transport secretary claimed Justine Greening could veto bonuses for bosses at Network Rail and "has more of an influence than she is letting on and she should use it".

Rail expert Christian Wolmar said Network Rail was "a very strange beast" as he was asked to explain the conflicting claims over the transport secretary's influence over the body.

The Transport Secretary is to vote against bonuses for top Network Rail executives at the firm's annual meeting on Friday.

Labour has discovered that the Department for Transport has to give 'prior written consent' to Network Rail before there can be any changes to its incentive policy. This follows the release by Labour last week of documents proving that the Transport Secretary has a place on Network Rail's Remuneration Committee as the company's 'Special Member' identified in the Artic...

Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary, is to take the unprecedented step of voting against Network Rail's plans to award a bonus of £336,000 to its chief executive at a key meeting this week.

Labour has urged ministers to block six-figure bonuses for Network Rail bosses, insisting they have the power to prevent such payouts.