Former Queensland Rail (QR) chief executive Helen Gluer and another key executive reportedly spent two weeks away in Europe on a business trip before last month’s bungled timetable scandal.

Ms Gluer and QR chief operating officer Kevin Wright visited rail operators and manufacturers across Europe over two weeks in early September, The Courier Mail has claimed .

While Ms Gluer returned just a day before the Caboolture line was shutdown ahead of the disastrous Redcliffe Peninsula line launch, Mr Wright remained for a holiday until October 13 — after the worst of the driver shortage crisis had already unfolded.

The $37,524 business trip was organised to “gain valuable operating experience in the European Train Control System” a QR spokeswoman told The Courier Mail.

Mr Wright was awarded a $77,000 performance bonus the very same month — one of a total of $7 million in bonuses granted to QR executives and staff members.

A review has found a staffing shortage was responsible for the delays and hundreds of service cancellations that left commuters in the lurch.

The scandal resulted in the sacking of a QR manager charged with train service delivery, the stepping down of QR chair Michael Klug and Ms Gluer, and the launch of a three-month review.

Interim chief executive Neil Scales has since pledged to train an extra 100 drivers and 100 guards to accommodate the new Redcliffe Peninsula line.

The Courier Mail’s report comes just two days after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk granted review head Phillip Strachan increased powers to investigate the shortage.

Commissioner Strachan had previously advised Ms Palaszczuk QR was withholding board papers and minutes from January 2015 onwards, The Courier Mail reported .

Mr Strachan also claimed the QR Board was redacting information it considered confidential while pressing him to maintain the confidentiality of all interviewees.