Media centre

Friday 20 Jan 2017

Senior management changes

Region & Route:

National

| Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail and Abellio have today announced that Phil Verster will be moving to become managing director of the East West rail project that was announced by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling last month.

He will take up his new post in the spring.

Phil’s successor has been agreed and will be announced in the coming days.

Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail said: "Phil has done a great job setting up the ScotRail Alliance and overseeing the delivery of one of the largest programmes of rail modernisation in Scotland since Victorian times. I am delighted that a leader of Phil’s calibre will be heading up the new East West rail project, recently announced by the Secretary of State. We have agreed a replacement to succeed Phil and will be making an announcement shortly.”

Dominic Booth, managing director, Abellio UK said: “Phil has played a key role in helping us create the ScotRail Alliance, the first time an operating company has come together in such a deep alliance with Network Rail to deliver the very best for our customers. We are currently investing in a fleet of 70 new trains, which will transform the rail travel experience of our customers.”

Phil Verster said: "Over the last two years I have worked with my team to launch the ScotRail Alliance, delivering hundreds of commitments and laying the ground for the exciting new train fleets that will start to arrive later this year. The opportunity to build on these same principles with the creation of a new business such as East West Rail is great for me and my family, and I wish the ScotRail Alliance team all the best for the future."

ENDS

For queries to Network Rail on Phil Verster’s move to East West rail project please contact: Network Rail press office (0203 356 8700)

For queries to Abellio please contact: Andrew McIntyre (07500823182)

For queries to the ScotRail Alliance please contact: Rob Shorthouse (07746191150)

Notes to editor:

Phil Verster has accepted the role of managing director of the East West rail project, reporting to its chair Rob Brighouse. The project will scope out how the new East West rail programme should be structured and operate. It was announced by Secretary of State Chris Grayling in December 2016 as a new way of building, operating, maintaining and renewing a new line between Cambridge and Oxford.