The train operating companies are understood to employ about 120 negotiators to argue with Railtrack.
Critics say the system is wasteful and compromises safety.
But Railtrack and the train operators say it works well, benefits the customer and is, in any case, a regulatory requirement set up at privatisation. Hatfield chaos Railtrack has come under repeated fire for delaying vital repairs to the rail network to cut down on delays and cancellations. Before last year's Hatfield crash, when a broken rail led to the death of four passengers, train operators took the blame for the majority of delays, paying out thousands of pounds every year in penalties. Following the crash, the rail network ground to a halt as Railtrack imposed hundreds of speed restrictions and caught up on a backlog of repairs, incurring massive fines. If Railtrack is responsible, it pays a fine to the train company based on the number of passengers and the profitability of the train.