Last year he received more than £500,000 in bonuses, including a £305,000 annual bonus, after meeting certain performance targets.

They came despite NR being fined a record £14m for three serious engineering overruns over 2007/08 Christmas and New Year.

The company's remuneration committee is due to announce this year's bonuses shortly and Coucher said that he had written to the committee saying that he did not want to be considered for a bonus this year.

"I want to be able to talk freely about Network Rail's story of success and how it has delivered for passengers not just last year but over the last five years without this story being clouded by controversy," he said.

"In the last 12 months we met or exceeded almost all of the tough targets set for us by our independent regulator.

"Nonetheless I am mindful of current sentiment, so I have taken a personal decision to forego any annual bonus this year."