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Notes to editors

Today's railway looks very different to the one inherited by Network Rail: Performance: Now - 90.4% on time, 2002 - 78.6% on time Investment: Now - £4.3bn up 35%, 2002 - £3.2bn Network Rail's full Board (three executive and eight non-executive directors) met yesterday to discuss and ratify the new appointments The Board appointments will be affective from 1 October 2008 Robin Gisby: Robin became director, operations and customer services in May 2004 following many successful years in the company with roles such as, director of the southern region, director of the eastern region and with Railtrack as director network development and director of freight. Before joining Railtrack in 1997, Robin, now 51, had a wide range of engineering and operational roles in both the UK and overseas mainly with GKN plc. He has a degree in Engineering Science and an MBA. Robin is married with four children and lives in south west London. Simon Kirby: Simon’s early career was spent in the aerospace & defence industry including the Trident nuclear submarine programme. Simon went on to become operations director of the two Marconi shipyards in 1998. In 2000, after the merger of Marconi and British Aerospace (to form BAE Systems) Simon was appointed MD of the three BAE Systems shipyards in Cumbria and Glasgow and then MD of BAE Systems' multi-billion pound 'prime contract' organisation. Simon joined Network Rail in July 2003 as director, major projects and investment with responsibility for delivery of the company's growing project and expansion scheme portfolio. Last year Simon was appointed to the new role of director, infrastructure investment which added the company's 'mega-projects', such as the west coast project, the Thameslink programme, and other to his responsibilities. Simon, 43, has an MSc in engineering business management, is married with two children, and lives in Cumbria. He enjoys sailing, cycling and Liverpool FC. Paul Plummer: Paul Plummer joined Network Rail when it took over Railtrack nearly six years ago. His responsibilities include all aspects of economic regulation, business planning and long-term planning of the network. Previously chief economist (from 1999-2001) and then non-executive director (until October 2002) at the Office of the Rail Regulator, he has also worked at National Economic Research Associates (NERA), NM Rothschild & Sons and Accenture. Paul is 42, married with four children and lives in Bedfordshire, commuting daily on the west coast main line. He enjoys running and hockey.