Govia has named the senior executive team for London Midland, which is to operate the UK's new West Midlands franchise from November 11. Steve Banaghan is Managing Director; Andy Thomas, Operations Director; Julian Edwards, Finance Director; Alex Hynes, Commercial Director; John Barlass, Engineering Director; Mike Haigh, Business Integration Director; Rachel Webster, Head of Communications; and Paul Frost, Professional Head of Safety and Acting Head of Safety & Environment. Paul Holt is interim Head of Human Resources.

Arriva takes over the CrossCountry franchise on the same day, with Andy Cooper as interim Managing Director. Dennis Baker is Director of HR; Catherine Mason, Commercial; Richard Harrison, Finance; Jeremy Higgins, Customer Service; Sarah Kendall, interim Production Director; and Richard Lashwood, interim Head of Operational & Community Safety.

South West Trains Operations Director James Burt has been appointed Customer Services Director at First Great Western, succeeding Glenda Lamont who moves to First America. London Lines Managing Director Mark Hopwood has been appointed Route Director, High Speed. Matthew Golton joins FGW in the new post of Projects Director, while Commercial Director Tom Stables is responsibile for Marketing.

Choube Sudha has been appointed Financial Commissioner on the Indian Railway Board. Prakash Sri is now General Manager of Northern Railway.

D Hayward Aiton has been appointed to the board of VIA Rail Canada.

Prof Lanfranco Senn has been appointed President of Metropolitana Milanese.

Tariq Yaseen was appointed Pakistan's Federal Inspector of Railways following the death of Imtiaz-ul-Haq. He is succeeded as Chief Personnel Officer by Chaudhry Nazir Ahmad.

Managing Director of the Maintenance Division at ProRail Bart Schmeink has been appointed Managing Director of UK operator Merseyrail, succeeding Patrick Verwer.

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