Network Rail has admitted the "timing is difficult" after its outgoing chief government was included within the Queen's Birthday Honours listing amid continued disruption to rail journeys.
Mark Carne has been appointed a CBE for his providers to the railway business.
One commerce union chief mentioned it was like "rewarding the captain of the Titanic for jumping ship".
Rail passengers have confronted delays and cancellations since a main overhaul of rail timetables took impact on 20 May.
Chairman of Network Rail Sir Peter Hendy mentioned: "Clearly the timing of this award is difficult given current industry issues and their effects on passengers."
But he mentioned over his four-and-a-half years within the position Mr Carne had made a "tremendous contribution" to the UK's railways.
Since he was appointed chief government in January 2014, Mr Carne, a former oil government, has overseen a massive funding programme, together with the rebuilding of London Bridge and Birmingham New Street stations and the upgrading of signalling techniques, in addition to the Crossrail and Thameslink initiatives.
Other enterprise individuals honoured within the Queen's Birthday List embrace:
Knighthoods (KBE)
James Ratcliffe, the UK's richest man, in keeping with the Sunday Times wealthy listing, and boss of chemical compounds big Ineos, for providers to enterprise and funding.
Tim Waterstone, founding father of the guide chain carrying his title, for providers to bookselling and charity.
Damehoods (DBE)
Moya Greene, chief government of Royal Mail, for providers to enterprise and the postal sector.
CBE
Thomas Ilube, entrepreneur, for providers to know-how and philanthropy.
Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, for providers to the social sciences and economics.
Jo Malone, founding father of perfume firms Jo Malone and Jo Loves, for providers to the British Economy.
MBE
Judy Naake, founding father of St Tropez self-tanning merchandise, for providers to entrepreneurship, the neighborhood and philanthropy
Charlotte Tilbury founding father of her eponymous cosmetics model, for providers to the wonder business.
Keith Tordoff, proprietor of the Oldest Sweet Shop in England in Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, for providers to the neighborhood.
Mr Carne introduced in February he would depart Network Rail later this yr.
However, the present difficulties within the rail business provides a contact of controversy to his departure with a Queen's Birthday honour.
Manuel Cortes, common secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association, mentioned: "Frustrated passengers will see no honour in that at all."
A senior backbench opposition MP has additionally criticised the choice to incorporate Mr Carne on the listing.
Labour's Lisa dy instructed BBC Radio four's The World Tonight his CBE was "just another kick in the teeth" for rail travellers and ought to be withdrawn.
She mentioned "there's absolutely no way that the government should press ahead with this award".
Lilian Greenwood, the Labour chair of Parliament's Transport Select Committee, agreed rail customers wouldn't be impressed with the honour.
"Passengers will be furious. Their trains aren't arriving on time, if they arrive at all, but this reward for the top boss turns up even before he's left his post," she mentioned.
She mentioned the committee had launched an inquiry to ascertain who was chargeable for the "shambolic" timetable modifications however within the meantime "this announcement will add insult to passengers' injury".
Analysis: BBC Transport Correspondent Victoria Fritz
Mark Carne should be used to dangerous timing. He wasn't a yr into the job earlier than he confronted a public lambasting for being on vacation when overrunning engineering works ruined the Christmas plans of 1000's of passengers.
He presided over the uncomfortable change Network Rail made from personal to public possession which additionally uncovered him to criticism over his wagegreater than 5 occasions that of the prime minister.
Furthermore, for the reason that letter of advice for a CBE hit the doormat a few months in the past, the East Coast Mainline franchise has collapsed and 5 different prepare traces have been delivered to their knees with timetable modifications.
It is to his credit score that Mark Carne stays a standard determine throughout the business. He has overseen among the most formidable and sophisticated upgrades to infrastructure anyplace on the earth. He has championed security on the railways and variety within the workforce.
He has made strides to stamp out zero-hours contracts and is commonly seen on the entrance line with monitor employees.
The Department for Transport stated that regardless of the "unfortunate" timing Mr Carne's work in "improving safety and modernising our rail network" deserved recognition.
However, the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, has laid among the blame for current disruption at Network Rail's door.
Mr Grayling mentioned the organization had been "very late" in approving the brand new timetables. He additionally mentioned the introduction of the electrical trains wanted to function the brand new providers had been delayed because of uncompleted infrastructure initiatives.
Two different Network Rail workers additionally acquired honours.
Ian Stevens has been made an OBE for providers to suicide prevention, and Scott Heath is awarded the BEM for providers to the LGBT neighborhood.