Network Rail has appointed Liam Sumpter as managing director for Network Rail in Scotland on a two-year secondment, following the news that Alex Hynes is joining the Department for Transport, where he is becoming director general rail services, again for two years.

Liam starts work on Monday. Meanwhile, Scottish Rail Holdings has announced that ScotRail’s chief operating officer Joanne Maguire has been appointed interim managing director at the operator.

She said: ‘Everyone at ScotRail continues to work hard to increase passenger numbers, grow revenue, and deliver value for money for the taxpayer. I am looking forward to continuing to play my part.’

Liam has 22 years of railway experience, having joined Railtrack in 2002, at a time when the failed company’s activities were in the process of being transferred to newly-created Network Rail.

He was appointed as area director for the West Midlands & Chilterns in 2013, and then joined Arriva Rail North as regional director for three years, before returning to Network Rail as chief operating officer and most recently route director for Scotland.

He said he was ‘delighted’ with his new opportunity. He continued: ‘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.

Chief executive Andrew Haines added: ‘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 to strengthen our alliance and deliver an even better service.’

ScotRail chairman and Scottish Rail Holdings chief executive David Lowrie said: ‘Joanne Maguire has been an outstanding leader of ScotRail over the past two years and I am pleased that she has accepted the role of interim managing director. I know she will continue to work with the team to build on our recent successes, including strong passenger growth, customer satisfaction, and punctuality.

‘We remain fully committed to the Alliance Agreement, which has delivered close collaborative working between ScotRail and Network Rail Scotland.’