RUTH Kelly is the new Secretary of State for Transport.
She moves to the Department for Transport in Gordon Brown's new Cabinet from heading up the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Ms Kelly, former education and skills secretary, takes over the transport portfolio from Douglas Alexander who departs after being appointed Secretary of State for International Development by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
She takes over at a time when the industry is eagerly awaiting several statements which will point the way to the future of rail.
One of her first responsibilities will be to introduce a White Paper giving the Government's strategy on rail transport for the next 30 years, the HLOS - the High Level Output Specification - which will give details of what the government wants to happen and SOFA, a Statement of Funds Available.
Ms Kelly, who has four children, was the youngest of Tony Blair's Cabinet ministers when she was first appointed aged 36.
During her time holding Cabinet jobs she has courted controversy, particularly at the Department of Education and Science when she was criticised by teaching unions after rejecting proposals to replace GCSEs and A Levels with a new diploma.
She also ran into flak over proposed changes to schooling in England and the introduction of Trust schools.
The MP for Bolton West, she was born in Limavady, Northern Ireland, attended Sutton High School and the private Westminster School.
She went on the study politics, philosophy, and economics at Queen's College, Oxford, followed by an Mcs in economics at the London School of Economics.
Her first job was as an economics reporter for the Guardian ands later she moved to the Bank of England where she was deputy editor of the quarterly inflation report.
She became a minister for the first time after the 2001 election - joining Gordon Brown's team as economic secretary to the treasury.
In 2004 she became minister of state at the Cabinet Office.
She lists her interests as walking, swimming, and watching Bolton Wanderers football club.