East West Railway Company has announced the appointment of Susan Cooklin as its new Chair as the project moves into its next phase.
The appointment has been announced one day after the Commons Transport Committee held a one-day evidence session about East West Rail, and EWR has also revealed its plan for a new depot near Newton Longville, which has led to Buckinghamshire Council voicing concerns about some of the details, including the fact that it would occupy a greenfield site.
EWR has yet to see any scheduled passenger trains between Bicester and Bletchley, but the organisation is preparing to invite bids for tenders for the upgrading of the Bletchley-Bedford section and building the new line between Bedford and Cambridge. The project includes seven new stations, with connections made at 10 existing stations.
Susan has held senior executive positions at Network Rail and in financial services. She previously served as managing director of Network Rail's Route Services business, leading thousands of employees and overseeing a national portfolio of operational, engineering, technology and supply chain services that support the railway.
She said: ‘I am delighted to join East West Rail as chair at such an important moment for the project. East West Rail is one of the most exciting infrastructure programmes in the UK, and delivering it is essential to future economic growth across the region, unlocking new homes and better access to jobs along the route.
‘Throughout my career, I have been passionate about delivering complex projects that make a real difference to people and businesses. I look forward to working with colleagues, partners and stakeholders to realise the full benefits of this transformational railway.’
Chief executive officer David Hughes has welcomed the appointment. He said: ‘I am delighted to welcome Susan to East West Rail. She brings a wealth of experience in leading large, complex organisations, delivering major transformation programmes and putting customers at the heart of decision-making. Her track record across rail, technology and infrastructure, alongside her strong leadership and governance experience, will be invaluable as we continue to develop and deliver this nationally significant project.’
Susan replaces Neil Sachdev, who is standing down after his term of office came to a close. David added: ‘I would also like to thank Neil for his tenure as Chair and for the dedication he has shown to championing the project and moving it forward through the design process.’
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