Media centre

Thursday 25 Nov 2004

NETWORK RAIL SIGNALS SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIPS

Region & Route:

National

Demonstrating its commitment to community rail partnerships, Network Rail today unveiled a new post – Account Director, Community Rail Partnerships – and announced the appointment of Mr Jerry Swift.                                                            Network Rail’s Group Director, Government & Corporate Affairs, Victoria Pender, said: “We are delighted to announce this new post and the appointment of Jerry Swift to work with the Community Rail Partnerships across the country.  This new post underlines our support for developing local and rural railways and will help ensure that Network Rail plays its part in delivering the Government’s Community Rail Development Strategy.” Accepting his new post, Jerry Swift said: “I am delighted to accept this post, which will offer community rail partnerships a single point of contact within Network Rail.  I am looking forward to working with the Association of Community Rail Partnerships.  Together, we will work to deliver sound initiatives and lead the drive to get redundant railway property back into use within the local communities.” The new account director will offer community rail partnerships practical advice on implementation and will be developing more flexible approaches to leasing redundant property.  He will also fulfil a co-ordinating role, bringing together the different elements of a community rail project, and working with colleagues in Network Rail to implement ideas that can deliver benefit to the community.