Northern Trains Limited has announced that a new Managing Director will lead Northern as it moves into public ownership.
From today, Nick Donovan joins Northern Trains as Managing Director. Mr Donovan is currently the independent Chair of the Network Rail Performance Board and led TransPennine Express from 2011 to 2015.
For the last two years, Nick has been advising ScotRail on train service performance and before that worked at Northern Powerhouse Rail. Nick was also interim Engineering Director at Arriva Rail North in 2016.
On 1st March 2020, the Northern Trains Limited took over from operating trains on the Northern network from Arriva Rail North.
What did the officials say?
Robin Gisby, Chairman of Northern Trains and CEO of the public sector operator, DOHL, said:
“Nick's widespread experience, leadership of TPE and his role as Chair of the industry's National Performance Board has given him a first-class insight into all the issues and challenges we face, not just as Northern but for all operators across the Northern region.
“Given the current circumstances and environment we are operating in, I am very confident that Nick is the right person to lead the business going forward.
“David Brown has faced some very difficult challenges during his time leading the Northern business. I have now asked David to move across to our holding company where we can explore other senior level opportunities and retain his skills and experience. We should all take this opportunity to acknowledge David's significant contribution to the Northern Franchise over the last two and a half years.
“Our priority over the coming weeks will be to stabilise performance whilst continuing to deliver existing projects including the introduction of new trains. Over the next 100 days, we will push forward with a widespread review of the business and its operations to ensure that we can and will deliver the improvements that Northern's passengers deserve.”
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Hope that Mr Donovan can introduce more extra trains for the Northeast of England that it mostly needs including more extra Class 195 Civity trains. And perhaps to introduce a new stopper service from York to Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed with the introduction of ordering more Class 331 Civity trains.
From what I’m also learning from … I do wish this Mr Donovan character Good Luck at Helping Northern Trains Ltd turn round it’s Reputation,
And to eventually help freshly improve all Rail Services to and fro across Yorkshire and the Rest of the North of England we all know.
Also, I’m proud that Rail-Travel Up North is now under Government Control (which ought to be on A Permeant Basis) … I still think Re-Nationalisation is the Potential Key Answer to Resolving Britain’s Rail Network.
Again Good Luck to Mr Donovan.
Would wish him success in turning Northern round; strong leadership is key, especially in motivating a workforce that possibly feels a little put-down by events. It would help if RMT took their foot off the pedal and displayed what I feel should be a more flexible and responsible approach to negotiation.