Merseyrail has announced who will take over as its new managing director.
The region's rail operator today revealed that Neil Grabham will become its new boss later this summer.
Currently the customer services director for East Midlands Railway, Mr Grabham has experience both from the rail sector and beyond, having previously undertaken senior leadership roles for Greater Anglia, Signet Jewellers and Lidl.
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He replaces Andy Heath in the role, who left Merseyrail earlier this summer and Jane English who has been acting managing director for the last ten months.
Merseyrail, which runs 600 rail services per day across the City Region, is currently part way through the roll out of a new fleet of class 777 trains onto the network as part of a significant modernisation programme on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Mr Grabham will lead the business through this important period. The roll-out of the trains is progressing but has been hit by teething problems with some software issues. The Kirkby line is now fully rolled out with Class 777s and work is ongoing to fill the Ormskirk line with the new fleet.
Neil Grabham, Merseyrail managing director said: “I feel very proud to have been given the opportunity to lead the fantastic team at Merseyrail, who I know share my ambition to deliver a railway that the communities we serve can be proud of. This is an exciting time of transformation, with new trains being introduced, and the opportunity to deliver real improvements in the journey experiences of our customers”.
Dominic Booth, CEO of Transport UK said: "I am very pleased that Neil will be taking over as Managing Director at Merseyrail at such an exciting and transformational time for the business. Neil's focus on the customer and providing the best possible operational service levels, will be a great fit for the City Region. I would also like to thank Jane English for her excellent stewardship of the business over the last ten months.”
John Whitehurst, Managing Director of Serco’s Transport business, said: “We are delighted that Neil is joining Merseyrail. He brings with him a wealth of experience and a real focus on customer service, which is so important for Merseyrail as we continue to transform the service on the back of the new train introduction. I would also like to thank Andy Heath for his service as Managing Director.”
Mr Grabham will take up his post from mid-August.
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