Failed rail firm Northern upped its bosses’ pay by nearly HALF as passengers faced misery ­during the timetabling crisis.

Accounts published just two days after the franchise was taken back into Government control last Sunday show bosses received an eyewatering increase of nearly £200,000.

Alan Selby  www.mirror.co.uk

That took total pay to £596,000 – including £248,000 for managing director David Brown.

Northern’s fatcats were rewarded while they presided over one of history’s worst-ever timetable fiascos in 2018.

Thousands of services were cancelled – with 165 a day cut to areas including Manchester, Liverpool, Blackpool and the Lake District – as passengers endured crammed trains in the week and chaotic Sundays.

Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham was among those calling for the firm to be stripped of its franchise and said the pay figures showed renationalisation was “not a moment too soon”.

Mr Burnham said Northern had been “a licence to print money that simply rewarded failure”.

Northern rail, which has now been taken under control by the Government (Image: Evening Gazette)

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said passengers would be “incandescent” to hear about the pay rises, adding: “They should give every single penny back. It’s outrageous.”

Northern’s parent company Arriva blamed its failure on track operators Network Rail and other “challenges outside its control”.

Also from The Times www.thetimes.co.uk :

Rail fares have increased at double the rate of wage growth over the past decade….

…..Matthew Gregory, 49, the chief executive of First Group, was given a £876,000 pay package when he was promoted to head of the multinational transport company last year. First Group runs four train networks including South Western, which was the focus of the longest strike in the history of the railway last month. First also runs Transpennine Express. Almost 60 per cent of Transpennine trains were late in the year to the end of September, and many were cancelled…..

….Martin Griffiths, the chief executive of Stagecoach, received an £848,000 bonus on top of his £652,000 salary. His total remuneration almost doubled to £1.8 million, up from £987,000 the year before. Stagecoach and Virgin shared ownership of the west coast rail franchise until the start of last month, when it was taken over by a consortium led by First Group. Stagecoach now does not run any rail franchises in Britain…..