Network Rail has announced the appointment of Liam Sumpter as Managing Director for Network Rail Scotland.

Sumpter's appointment follows the recent announcement that Alex Hynes has been seconded to the role of Director General, Rail Services at the Department for Transport for a period of two years. Liam will officially take up his new post, on secondment for the same two-year period, from Monday 15 April 2024.

Scottish Rail Holdings has also announced today that Joanne Maguire has been appointed interim Managing Director of ScotRail.

Commenting on his appointment, Liam said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to undertake the position of Managing Director for Network Rail in Scotland.

"Working as Route Director for the past five years has been deeply rewarding. We have a great team here in Scotland, and I am confident that together, we can continue to fulfil our main objective to run a reliable and safe railway.

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"Network Rail Scotland is fully committed to continued collaborative working with ScotRail, Scottish Rail Holdings and Transport Scotland to further develop our best for Scotland's Railway approach. Over the coming months our focus will be on enhancing our ways of working together in order that we can strengthen and update our Alliance Agreement, build on our previous successes, such as the joint Integrated Control in Glasgow, which is one of the first of its kind in the UK railway, and effectively deliver our objectives for the next five-year funding period."

Andrew Haines, chief executive of Network Rail said: "I am very pleased to appoint Liam to the role of managing director, leading our team in Scotland.

"As we enter our new five-year funding period, Scotland's Railway will face many challenges and opportunities and I have every confidence that Liam will continue delivering on our commitments on train service performance, safety, climate action and affordability to the Scottish Government, our partners, customers and our staff.

"Scotland's Railway is already showing the rest of the UK the benefits of integrating track and train and I look forward to working with ScotRail, Scottish Rail Holdings and Transport Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government, to strengthen our alliance and deliver an even better service for the people of Scotland."