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David Higgins starts work today as chief executive at Network Rail. He immediately announced his priorities for the company:

“I take charge of a company today, transformed compared to where it was eight years ago. Now we have a safe and punctual railway with more people using it than in any time in the last 70 years. At the same time we are building a bigger and better railway and a better value railway.

“My priorities are to drive further a culture of safety, to get even better value for money for the British people and to be more attuned to the needs of our customers and passengers. I also want people to associate these words with Network Rail: Open. Transparent. Accountable. Responsive.

“I must pay tribute to previous and current members of Network Rail’s leadership team for all their hard work that has turned around the railway. Now we start a new chapter and over the next few months I will make further announcements about what Network Rail will do differently in the future as it seeks to build trust.”

Mr Higgins concluded: “Finally, to the tireless men and women who work for Network Rail all over the country, in all weather and all times of the day; your hands, more than mine, hold the key to our future success. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible in the near future, to listen and to learn.”