NETWORK RAIL APPOINTS NEW SPECIAL TRAINS MANAGER: Rachel Gilliland - Head of Commercial Freight

Friday 27 Mar 2009

NETWORK RAIL APPOINTS NEW SPECIAL TRAINS MANAGER

Region & Route:
National

Rachel Gilliland, presently a customer services manager based in Manchester, is to become the new customer relations executive - special trains.

Rachel will take up the post in July but will start 'shadowing' the present job holder, Stephen Cornish, from 6 April, to help with a smooth transition, and the transfer of the vast wealth of knowledge and experience Stephen possesses.

Barbara Barnes, head of customer service, said: "Having Rachel on board will be a real asset to the special trains team and the long-handover period allows Rachel the much needed time to tap into Stephen's years of knowledge and experience.

"Stephen has had a long and illustrious railway career. I wish him all the best in his retirement. He will be missed by all."

Notes to editors

Rachel Gilliland biog: Rachel began her career with BR in 1991 as a graduate manager, and cut her teeth as operations supervisor on the London Tilbury and Southend railway before moving on to become station manager at Bath Spa. For three years, she was then terminal controller for Eurostar, responsible for day to day management and security of Waterloo International Terminal. Rachel then moved on to a role as stations development manager for London & Continental Railways, looking after the facilities and safety management of St Pancras, and becoming heavily involved in the planning for the future development of St Pancras International. There was then a time spent as project development manager for Railtrack East Anglia, followed by two years as Network Rail’s account manager for West Anglia Great Northern railway. Finally, after a brief spell at Network Rail’s London headquarters, Rachel moved to her present position in 2003, taking up the job of area customer service manager for Manchester, dealing with a huge range of operational, commercial and planning issues, and generally championing the cause of Network Rail’s many customers in the Manchester area. Stephen Cornish biog: Stephen started work for BR straight from school in 1969 as a ticket office clerk on the Altrincham line, and progressed from there to do various clerical jobs in both passenger and freight in the Manchester divisional offices. Having been passed out in rules & regs, Stephen was then appointed as a relief supervisor at Guide Bridge in 1976, working on the Woodhead line and at the various associated yards and depots in East Manchester. In 1984, Stephen was appointed as area traffic manager at Guide Bridge, moving from there a couple of years later to become area traffic manager at Buxton. In 1987 Stephen joined provincial services as resources manager for the North West, moving on to become provincial manager thereafter for a short time up until the creation of Regional Railways in 1992. Stephen then became senior product manager for Regional Railways North West, and at privatisation, was appointed planning manager, for North West Trains (became First North Western.) In 1998, Stephen was invited to join Railtrack to work within the special trains team, and a year later in 1999 was appointed as the special trains manager, working with the many special trains customers, and the fascinating requirements and demands of steam trains, Pullman trains, enthusiast specials and everything else that comprises the special trains business.

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