Six directors of British railway operator Railtrack have been awarded new share options worth almost £2 million sterling.
The options, which the company says are designed to motivate the executives, were granted on June 19th.
They came just two days before Railtrack was criticised over the £1 million pay-off to former chief executive Mr Gerald Corbett after he resigned over the Hatfield crash.
A Railtrack spokeswoman said the directors stand to gain if the share price rises above the option price of 316.5p, subject to performance criteria set by the company.
The two biggest winners are chief executive Mr Steve Marshall, who was offered 127,014 shares, and finance director Mr David Harding, who has the option to buy 173,775.
If the share price rises to 500p, Mr Marshall, who earned £361,000 last year, stands to gain £400,000, and Mr Harding would make £234,000.
The Railtrack spokeswoman said: "Six directors were granted the opportunity to buy shares in Railtrack for 316.5p, subject to performance criteria.
"The executive share options scheme has been in operation for a number of years," she said.
PA