16.09.19
Network Rail confirms route director appointments
Today (Monday 16 September) will see Network Rail’s 14 new routes go live. Meanwhile, the company directors each have confirmed a number of senior management appointments to their teams.
This comes after the announcement of a ‘re-branding’ of Network Rail as it pledges to put passengers and freight users first and focus on getting closer to its customers and local stakeholders.
The 14 new routes, from a previous eight, are the starting point of the new ‘Putting Passengers First’ campaign which will continue to roll out changes and hopes to be completed by summer 2020.
The routes will focus on taking responsibility for operations, maintenance and minor renewals in their own areas, and handling the day-to-day train performance and relations with their local train operating companies.
Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “The 14 new routes are all about moving power and accountability from the big network functions to the routes and regions, giving them greater accountability for train performance in their areas.
“It is a fundamental change and at the heart of the transformation of Network Rail to a business that is unequivocally on the side of passengers and freight users, focused on delivering better day-to-day performance.”
These new appointments are as follows:
Eastern region (led by Rob McIntosh, managing director)
- Ellie Burrows – route director, Anglia
- Gary Walsh – route director, East Midlands
- Matthew Rice – route director, North & East
- Paul Rutter – route director, East Coast
Scotland’s Railway (led by Alex Hynes, managing director)
- Liam Sumpter – route director, Network Rail Scotland
Wales & Western region (led by Mark Langman, managing director)
- Bill Kelly- route director, Wales and Borders
- Mike Gallop – route director, Western
North West and Central region (led by Tim Shoveller, managing director)
- James Dean – route director, West Coast Mainline South
- Phil James – route director, North West
- Dave Penney – route director, Central *
Southern region (led by John Halsall, managing director)
- Mark Killick – route director, Wessex
- Shaun King – route director, Sussex
- Fiona Taylor – route director, Kent
- Katie Frost – route director, Network Rail High Speed
*Dave Penney will take up his position in the new year. David Golding will be acting route director for the Central route in the interim.
Image Credit : Chris Radburn