Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin today (25 April 2013) named the remaining members of the Franchise Advisory Panel as the Department for Transport continues to successfully push forward with its new programme for rail franchising.
The five industry experts, who met for the first time this week, will provide support, assurance and commercial expertise to the department as it negotiates contracts for 15 franchises over the next 8 years. The panel members have been appointed on initial three-year terms.
Richard Brown, Chairman of Eurostar and author of the independent Brown Review into Rail Franchising, was named chairman of the panel last month as part of the government’s comprehensive rail franchising announcement.
The remaining four members named today are:
- Nicola Shaw, CEO of High Speed 1 Limited
- Stephen Paine, Managing Director, Global Head of Infrastructure and Co-Head of UK Investment Banking at UBS Investment bank
- Martin Buck, Commercial Director at Crossrail Limited
- Michael Holden, CEO of Directly Operated Railways and Chairman of East Coast
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:
We have already laid the foundations for a successful rail franchising system with our comprehensive new schedule but it is also vital we take advantage of industry know-how.
The talent and expertise of the Franchise Advisory Panel will complement the skills and knowledge already available in the department and ultimately help deliver franchises which will provide real benefits to both passengers and taxpayers.
The panel is expected to meet on a monthly basis and will:
- advise, support and inform the Secretary of State on the Department for Transport’s work on the rail franchising programme
- provide support, challenge and assurance to the Franchising Director and franchising team as they progress the franchising programme and develop and enhance capability
- provide a commercial perspective to the programme, and help assure the Secretary of State, the Permanent Secretary and the market that sound advice, assurance and governance processes are in place
The new franchising schedule announced on March 26 unveiled long-term plans designed to drive improvements to rail services, deliver on major infrastructure projects, and put passengers at the heart of a revitalised rail franchising system.