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ELAINE HOLT TO HEAD NEW EAST COAST COMPANY

TRANSPORT secretary Lord Adonis has announced the appointment of former First Capital Connect managing director Elaine Holt as chief executive designate of the new publicly owned East Coast Main Line Company established to take over the franchise from National Express East Coast. Read all »

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Latest Railnews headlines:

General

Bowker resigns from National Express — Government takes over East Coast services
- RICHARD Bowker is resigning as chief executive of National Express Group — and its flagship East Coast inter-city rail service is being taken over by the Department for Transport until the franchise can be re-let.
Eight out of 10 people are happy with their rail experience – except for travellers on West Coast
- EIGHTY ONE per cent of passengers across the country are satisfied with their rail experience, but punctuality and reliability continue to cause concern on some routes, reveals the latest Passenger Focus National Passenger Survey.

Business

HISTORIC CONFERENCE CENTRE UNDER THREAT FROM HOUSING PLANS
- THE Derby Conference Centre run by Catalis Rail Training in the city’s London Road is under threat of closure following a planning application for housing development by the site’s owner.
Network Rail bonus payments encounter widespread criticism
- THE decision by Network Rail’s non-executive directors to agree to more than £1.2 million of bonus payments for the company’s executive directors has been met with widespread criticism from politicians, unions — and the Office of Rail Regulation.

Metro

Washington DC Metro Crash Kills Nine
- AT least nine people are reported killed and 70 injured in a peak-hour collision between two Metro subway trains on a busy commuter line in Washington DC.
Sound’s down for £600m tramway
- A NEW piling rig using a technique that cuts the amount of noise disturbance has signalled the start of major construction work on Greater Manchester’s Metrolink expansion.

Freight

Freight trains could move on to HS1 by next year
- CONTINENTAL-sized freight trains could be sharing the tracks of the London to Channel Tunnel HS1 route with high- speed passenger trains from early next year.
£55m project will improve clearances on port route
- ONE of the UK’s busiest freight routes is set to become the centre of a major £55 million project to allow easier transport of bigger containers.

People

Mark tops list with image of perfection
- FIRST ScotRail train cleaner Mark Graham, from Johnstone, has snapped up the First ScotRail Employee Photogra-pher of the Year award.
Soul man Malcolm heads for the stars
- BIRMINGHAM New Street-based Cross-Country customer service advisor Malcolm Burke has plenty of opportunity to share his enthusiasm for cult music with his audience – broadcasting on New Style Radio 98.7 FM.

International

China plans 35 high-speed lines by 2012
- While work continues in Britain examining the case for building a new high- speed rail line from London to the West Midlands and North—which may be opened by 2025—China has announced plans to build 35 high-speed routes by 2012.
US seizes high speed rail initiative
- WHILE Britain awaits a further report on whether to go ahead with a second high speed rail line, US President Barack Obama has announced a strategic plan for 10 high-speed corridors — with up to $13 billion (£8.8 billion) to seed planning and development.

Westminster Watch

Lord Adonis appointed Transport Secretary as Hoon leaves the Cabinet
- Rail Minister Lord Adonis was today (Friday) promoted to Transport Secretary in Gordon Brown’s reshuffle after Geoff Hoon left the Cabinet.
Anna should walk into rail regulator job, says MPs
- MPs have said that Anna Walker’s lack of experience in the industry could prove a strength in her proposed role chairing the Office of Rail Regulation.

Environment

Kings Norton becomes first ‘green’ station in West Midlands
- KINGS Norton, Birmingham has been declared the West Midlands’ first eco-friendly station after a team effort to create a bespoke ‘green’ travel plan for its users.
Tube Lines makes ‘going green’ a rooftop priority
- MAINTENANCE and upgrade partner Tube Lines has furthered its ‘Go Green’ initiative with installation of a ‘living roof’ on London Underground’s new Northern Line control centre in north London.