Route Supervisory Board established for ECML
A Route Supervisory Board, holding the railway to account for the East Coast Main Line, will begin work this month.
Led by Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, the Board is designed to act as one voice representing customers while ensuring different elements of the rail industry work together to drive improvements.
It will be formed of senior Network Rail representatives and those from train operating companies on the ECML, as well as passenger groups and regional economies.
“Britain’s railway is ever more important to economic growth so, working together, we are determined to deliver more for customer and communities across the country,” said NR’s London North Eastern & East Midlands Route Managing Director Rob McIntosh.
“The board will work together with one voice to best represent customers the length of the East Coast Main Line, bringing track and train closer together, driving improvements and holding the industry to account.”
McIntosh added that Verity would bring “valuable insight from outside the rail industry to help us grow the ECML and deliver its maximum potential value for UK plc”.
Verity said he was looking forward to delivering the next chapter in the history of the ECML, at what is an “important time in the evolution of train travel”.
Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling said: “Delivering such major improvements and repairs, while keeping the busy railway moving, is a tough task and it is much better done by a joined-up local team. Bringing the management of track and train closer together will mean disruption is minimised as we deliver these better journeys for passengers.”
Virgin Trains East Coast MD David Horne said: “Together with Network Rail, we’re moving forward at great speed in transforming rail travel on the East Coast. I welcome the appointment of Sir Gary as someone who shares Virgin’s passion and drive to deliver a truly best in class railway for our communities.”
Richard McClean, MD of open access operator Grand Central, said: “Setting up a Route Supervisory Board for the East Coast Main Line is a wonderful opportunity for the whole rail industry to work smarter together as one team to deliver for the passengers and communities that we serve.”