Network
Rail’s
chief
union
negotiator
Tim
Shoveller


is
leaving
the
infrastructure
owner
to
take
up
a
new
task
in
the
freight
sector.

He
will
become
chief
executive
officer
at
Freightliner’s
owner,
the
European
division
of
US
firm
Genesee
&
Wyoming
Inc.,
later
this
year.

Mr
Shoveller
began
his
railway
career
as
a
trainee
driver
and
guard
with
British
Rail
in
1992.
He
moved
on
to
various
management
posts
in
the
following
years,
including
as
operations
director
at
the
franchise
Midland Mainline.
When
the
MML
franchise,
which
had
been
owned
by
National
Express,
was
won
by
Stagecoach
in
2007,
he
joined
the
new
operator
East
Midlands
Trains
as
managing
director.

He
became
well
known
for
his
insistence
on
punctual
station
departures,
giving
his
despatch
staff
new
‘Acme
Thunderer’
whistles
and
radio
controlled
watches
to
help
them
get
trains
departing
on
time.
In
March
2008, he
said:
‘By
on
time,
I
mean
exactly
on
time,
not
even
a
few
seconds
late.’

He
moved
on
to
become
business
development
director
at
Virgin
Trains,
and
then
managing
director
of
Stagecoach
Rail
Division.

He
has
most
recently
been
managing
director
of
Network
Rail’s
North
West
and
Central
region,
and
since
last
year
has
played
a
key
part
in
negotiating
with
the
rail
unions.

He
said:
‘I
am
thrilled
to
join
G&W
at
such
a
pivotal
time
for
low-carbon
rail-freight
logistics.
My
priority
is
to
lead
the
team
to
optimise
the
core
business
for
our
customers
and
to
drive
growth
in
new
markets
in
the
UK and
Europe.
I
look
forward
to
building
on
the
impressive
work
that
is
already
underway.’

Until
he
joins
G&W,
its
European
operations
will
continue
to
be
led
by
interim
CEO
Becky
Lumlock
and
Jack
Hellmann,
who
is
chairman
of
G&W
in
the
UK
and
continental
Europe.