07.01.16
FirstGroup appoints new TPE MD in franchise shake-up
As part of the new TransPennine Express (TPE) franchise, set to start in April, FirstGroup has appointed Leo Goodwin as its managing director.
Goodwin has an extensive track record in the company, first joining it in 1998 at First Great Western in a range of management positions and later moving into the TPE team as commercial director during the 2003 franchise. In 2013, he became the commercial development director at the company’s First Rail division.
The new boss, who will replace interim MD Liz Collins, said: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to build on the successes that First TPE achieved over the last 11 years, in which we have more than doubled passenger journeys on the network.
“We will offer ambitious improvements for passengers. Our new franchise will deliver faster and more frequent intercity train services between the major towns and cities in the North and Scotland as well as investment in new trains with millions more seats available, free wi-fi and simpler smart and mobile ticketing.”
Former managing director Nick Donovan, in charge since 2011, has left the company.
The TPE franchise will be managed entirely by FirstGroup, instead of the current FirstGroup/Keolis split.
The franchise is expected to run until 2023, with the option for a two-year extension at the DfT’s discretion.
Under the contract, FirstGroup will deliver £303m real NPV (net present value) in premium payments to the government over the core period, with 2017-8 marking the transition of this franchise from being a subsidised railway to one which delivers a premium to the taxpayer.