Network Rail boss blasted for chaos quits

Network Rail boss Sir Ian McAllister, condemned in a government investigation into major disruption over Christmas and the New Year after engineering work failed to finish on time, today announced he is stepping down as chairman.

Sir Ian, 65, was knighted in February for "services to transport" on the day NR was given a record £14 million fine for making passengers' lives a misery over New Year.

A report from the House of Commons transport committee in July heaped much of the blame on Sir Ian.

The company will begin a national advertising campaign on Sunday for a new chief. Sir Ian earns £250,000 for a three-day week. He will retire following the company's AGM in July next year.

Sir Ian said improvements had been made in safety, reliability and efficiency of the railway in his six years in office.

"Safety is at record levels, train punctuality is now above 90 per cent and we are on track to reduce costs by around 30 per cent by the next AGM," he said.

Meanwhile, a general strike across Belgium on Monday will mean no Eurostar services between Britain and Brussels. There will also be no service between here and Lille that day.