24.01.14
Head of heavy rail appointed at Nexus
Nexus has created a new role to advise on heavy rail matters and help the PTE to lobby government for key decisions on rail services in the north.
James Farnell-Smith has been appointed as head of heavy rail, and will work on the on-going refranchising of Northern Rail, as well as advising on HS2 and leading development for Nexus on the North East Rail Strategy.
He joined Nexus as a graduate trainee in 2009 and was managing the Tyne and Wear Metro’s operating contract with Deutsche Bahn.
Farnell-Smith said: “This is a new and exciting opportunity for me and I’m very much looking forward to it. I hope I can bring some focus back and work with our partners in the wider north east to really influence the decision makers and make heavy rail a much more attractive product for the passengers.”
“I will miss the day to day challenges of managing the Metro concession but I have always wanted to do something more strategic and now I have the opportunity to do so.”
Nexus director of rail and infrastructure, Raymond Johnstone, said: “The new Head of Heavy Rail is a major strategic appointment for Nexus and will give us a greater voice on all heavy rail matters at a key time.”
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