Coucher

• A company founded by Coucher and Victoria Pender received payments of £180,000 every three months for unspecified services.

Conflict erupts at Network Rail after inquiry clears boss of abusing position 2010

In a point-by-point rebuttal of the Private Eye claims, Firth added that Coucher Pender Ltd last received payments from Network Rail in 2003; that Coucher no longer receives an annual housing allowance; and that, while 150 compromise agreements have been struck with former employees, the most expensive settlement was less than £500,000 and the average value was £60,000.

Conflict erupts at Network Rail after inquiry clears boss of abusing position 2010

Coucher said he had a "good" relationship with the RMT but admitted that cutting costs was always going to generate friction with the union.

Network Rail boss Iain Coucher resigns as pressure mounts over funding 2010

• Coucher was paid £20,000 a year for renting a central London apartment.

Conflict erupts at Network Rail after inquiry clears boss of abusing position 2010

Network Rail's funding and works programmes are set every five years and Coucher said he resigned because he could not guarantee that he would see through negotiations for the 2014-19 period, which begins in 2012.

Network Rail boss Iain Coucher resigns as pressure mounts over funding 2010

Coucher said: "We have to work hard to convince people about the need to invest in the railways."

Network Rail boss Iain Coucher resigns as pressure mounts over funding 2010

Coucher added that cutting services could save money, but Network Rail's day-to-day expenditure, the bulk of its £35bn budget over the next five years, could not be altered: "If you remove trains from rural networks, you still need to maintain the tracks."

Spending cuts hit £1bn programme for 1,300 new rail carriages Dan Milmo Transport Correspondent 2010

Coucher added that the company could therefore charge lower track access charges to train operators, maintaining downward pressure on fares.

Network Rail talks up cost savings and punctuality 2010

Coucher will remain in his post for several months until a successor is found.

Network Rail boss Iain Coucher resigns as pressure mounts over funding 2010

Coucher said his decision to step down after three years in charge was not influenced by the financial pressures bearing down on the company, which faces tough cost cuts regardless of the state of the wider public finances.

Network Rail boss Iain Coucher resigns as pressure mounts over funding 2010