The chief executive of the company that runs Britain’s rail network would give up all of any annual bonus he might be due for the last financial year, Network Rail announced on Thursday.

Iain Coucher made what he called the “personal decision” after weeks of controversy over whether he would accept any bonus awarded for 2008-09, which could amount to more than £500,000. He received £511,000 bonuses for 2007-08, on top of £529,000 basic pay, according to the company’s annual report. Last year’s bonus was cut because of the remuneration committee’s concern over over-running engineering work at the start of 2008, which led to a £14m fine from the Office of Rail Regulation.