Grayrigg train crash: how 'shambolic' maintenance record of Network Rail led to fatal accident And staff were already overworked and undermanned. Mr Lewis, in emails to bosses warned them maintenance was a "shambles" and staff complained of "bully boy" management. Yet the day after Mr Lewis missed the points check he came into work on his day off, asked to do a presentation to workers, the theme "Network Rail, a world class company." Mr Lewis broke down in tears as he admitted to the inquest he simply forgot to check the points. He was arrested and lost his job and pension from NR, but was merely a "scapegoat" who had acted with "integrity" Mrs Masson's family said - not a description they afforded to NR management. In fact their managers had no understanding what it was like at the "sharp end" working on the track. Within hours of the crash NR blamed "infrastructure" for the derailment. Rail staff had also reported concerns to the Railway Inspectorate, forerunner of the Office of Rail Regulation, but their inspectors simply "accepted assurances from management." Unions have claimed safety was overridden at the expense of political careers and financial incentives for senior managers at NR. Just last month the firm's board decided to forgo six-figure performance bonuses after coming under political pressure. Chief executive of NR Sir David Higgins, was in line for a possible £340,000 bonus on top of his £560,000 annual salary - roughly 90 times the one-off standard bereavement payment of £10,000 for families such as Mrs Masson's whose loved ones die a violent accidental death. Her son, George Masson, 62, himself an engineer, says his heart and health has deteriorated over the five years since the crash and he still grieves for his mother. Time has been kinder to another engineer - Sir John Armitt, the boss of NR at the time of Grayrigg and now chairman of the Olympics Delivery Authority. The same day in February that NR admitted responsibility in court for the first time, Sir John was at Buckingham Palace in top hat and tails, receiving a knighthood - for his services to engineering.