Claire Mann has been appointed Managing Director of South Western Railway and will take up her post early in 2021, it has been announced.
Claire has more than 2 decades of experience in the transport sector and has held a number of senior leadership roles in the rail industry including Director for Docklands Light Railway; Operations and Safety Director at Arriva Trains Wales; General Manager East at the former First Great Western and Customer Service Director at London Overground.
Most recently, she moved within TfL to become Director of Bus Operations, where she was responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the capital’s 9,200-strong bus fleet.
Mark Hopwood, currently Interim Managing Director of SWR, will return to be Managing Director of Great Western Railway on 4th January 2021. The role of SWR Managing Director will be covered by Mike Houghton, Chief Operating Officer, from 4th January 2021 until Claire joins.
Claire said:
“I’m really looking forward to joining the SWR team. This is a railway close to my heart and one that is vital for connecting so many diverse communities. I am passionate about delivering an excellent customer experience and building on the great work already underway to transform this railway. People are the most important part of any successful operation and I am looking forward to meeting the teams and individuals across the SWR network.”
Steve Montgomery, First Rail Managing Director, said:
“With her experienced background in customer service and public transport, Claire is well-placed to lead South Western Railway as we continue our £1.2bn programme to transform the travelling experience for our customers. We are all looking forward to having her on the team.
Article continues below this advertisement “Although passenger numbers may be suppressed at the moment, people will want to travel again for work or leisure, and we are ready to play our part in helping the economic recovery across the network. I’d like to thank Mark Hopwood performing this important interim role over the past year and for his commitment to improving services for customers at SWR.”
Island Line is a part of South Western Railway and in 2021 will undergo a number of major changes, including the introduction of new trains in May.
This is good news.
Now at least the seats will have pretty covers, and windows with matching curtains and well cleaned and hoovered daily. Even a little squirt of polish on the hard surfaces one expects.
Poopoo
Reinforcing the average male Islander’s mysogenistic views there then. Little wonder they call this dinosaur isle…
Blake, even when I praise women for their special and sometimes only skill, in your blinkered eyes it is wrong. You is the prejudice one of us. Pot is calling kettle as you brits say.
I’m assuming your’e kidding, as an excuse to double down.
Agreed. Tiresome at best, oppressive to live with.
You’ve just confirmed that the Island is a last respository of childish sexism.
Probably a bit over qualified (& expensive!) to deal with and handle the islands railway infrastructure, etc. Which is really only basic but usually workable and reliable (??) and requires a ‘hands on’ approach. Perhaps someone already in its employ who knows the whole story from a practical and realistic aspect could be moved up into the ‘management chain’.
Read the story, she’s the boss of the whole of SWR, not just island line. Sounds pretty qualified to me with her employment history.
I’m not sure you read the story correctly Jimmy? Islandline is just a small part of a much bigger company, of which she is the new MD. Islandline employs around 50 people and have recently appointed a new General Manager, Southwestern Railway employs around 4500 people and she is the new boss.
Apologies to all, yes Mr Jones you are correct and I was mistaken. I did not read the article thoroughly.
Well, welcome to the new post, Claire. It’s good to know that you are ‘passionate about delivering an excellent customer experience’.
For most of us users, I think we would just be happy if you could provide us with regular trains that reliably ran to schedule and without the at-times deafening ad intolerable vibro-massage that we have reluctantly had endure of late.
I’m sure she could also handle the floating bridge farce as well, and sort it out.
I think a womans touch is badly needed on the trains. Then they may be cleaned more often and stations painted.
Headline on par with “Fog in Solent, Mainland cut off”
Now we should get the trains cleaned better, and the seat fabric to match perfectly with the curtains. Trains need a woman’s touch.
What a fake smile..
Well, it never did Mona Lisa any harm.
We all smile ‘fakely’ when having a photo taken for a dull work placed snap, or at ridiculous comments on here.
….but can she cook and do the housework??
….and before the Guardian readers start throwing their toys about, that was said in jest, so wind your necks in. Thank you Love and peace
You’re proving our point, if you think ‘humour’ excuses sexism. You should get yourself educated.