RAILTRACK'S new chairman John Robinson could bring the embattled company back from the brink, say shareholders.

A good performance at Railtrack's AGM at York's Barbican Centre gave a much-needed confidence boost to the company.

But, in keeping with the company's misfortune, the AGM coincided with the revelation that £5 million worth of shares will be handed out to workers.

Staff are eligible for bonuses worth between £350 and £450 for meeting performance-related targets.

Huge payments to fat cat bosses have been met with heavy criticism from rail crash victims, but news of the 11,000 staff receiving cash handouts was better received.

"It is not the staff on the ground we blame," said a bereaved relative from the Ladbroke Grove disaster.

"It is the bosses, but the new lot seem to be turning things around." Despite fears of protests by the bereaved and survivors from fatal crashes at the AGM, Mr Robinson, in the job for just five weeks, gave the impression that he really will turn round the ailing rail network.

"He came across very well and we are hopeful things will change," said Marion Carmichael, who lost her 22-year-old daughter Jenny in the Ladbroke Grove disaster in 1999.

"Nobody could be worse than the last lot in charge here and I think Mr Robinson may do a good job.

"Hearing him saying sorry meant a lot. It has taken a long time to get an apology from anyone at the company and, even though he was not in charge at the time, it was very big of him to apologise."

The East Yorkshire-based chairman met with representatives from the Safe Trains Action Group before the AGM and had a "reasoned and calm" discussion with them, allaying many of their fears.

He admits he has "a huge task" ahead of him, but seems to be setting about his task with gusto and handled a potentially problematic all-day meeting very well.

He heavily criticised previous working practices in the company and admitted it would be a year before pre-Hatfield levels of service would return, "and even they were not good enough".

Commenting on the meeting, the Strategic Rail Authority chairman, Alastair Morton, said: "I welcome the determined style and content of the chairman's address to shareholders at Railtrack's AGM."

Updated: 12:16 Wednesday, July 25, 2001