The boss of British Network Rail David Higgins said on Monday he will not receive his bonus this year and instead donate it to improve safety, a move that had been taken by two top officials from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) under public pressure.

The decisions had been made "last week that we would forego any entitlement and instead allocate the money to the safety improvement fund for level crossings," Higgins said in a statement.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said the decision by Network Rail bosses to waive bonuses is "sensible and welcome."

Reports said the chief executive was to be given a bonus of up to 340,000 (about 537,660 U.S. dollars) pounds. The British government said it opposed the bonuses but did not have the power to block the awards.

Greening had planned to vote against the bonus in Network Rail's annual meeting, but admitted her vote was not binding.

Labor party has called for ministers to block any extra payments to executives at the subsidized rail network.

"Times have changed and failing to use the powers that ministers have will show just how out of touch they are with public opinion when we are supposed to all be in this together," Shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle said.

The debate comes after the organization admitted breaches of health and safety regulations over the deaths of teenagers Olivia Bazlinton and Charlotte Thompson at a level crossing in 2005.

Network Rail was set up by the then-Labor government in 2002 as a replacement for Railtrack and is running and operating most of the rail network.

Two high-ranking officials of the RBS have rejected their controversial share bonuses under strong criticism from the public last month.

RBS chief executive Stephen Hester has turned down his 963,000 pounds share bonus, which was given to him on top of his 1.2 million-pound basic salary.

RBS chairman Philip Hampton had also given up a 1.4 million pounds shares reward he was due this month. (1 pound = 1.58 U.S. dollars)