New Managing Director for TransPennine Express

Matthew Golton has been appointed Managing Director of TransPennine Express (TPE) effective from 1 June 2021.

Matthew has been with FirstGroup since 2006, holding a number of senior leadership roles, including Great Western Railway (GWR)’s Interim Managing Director, GWR Commercial Development Director and First Rail Business Development Director. Prior to his time with FirstGroup, Matthew worked in the rail freight and energy sectors.

For more than a decade Matthew played a leading role in GWR’s transformation programme and the successive renewal of its contracts with Government.  Working with stakeholders, suppliers and partners he successfully drove service, station, fleet, depot and route enhancements across the GWR network and attracted major multi-million investment into the business and its railway. His experience in helping guide GWR through the Great Western Route Modernisation Programme will be key as TPE completes the roll out of the new Nova fleets and gears up to support the TransPennine Upgrade and other major rail enhancement programmes in the North of England and into Scotland.

Matthew takes over the role from interim Managing Director, Liz Collins, who is retiring from her current full-time role and taking up a new part-time position in West Coast Partnership as Finance & Commercial Director.

Matthew Golton, TPE’s incoming Managing Director, said: “I am delighted to be joining the team at TransPennine Express.  I am looking forward to working with colleagues in TPE and the wider rail industry as we continue to play our part in supporting the UK’s recovery from the pandemic.  I want TPE to be at the heart of delivering positive change for rail users and the communities that it serves in the North of England and into Scotland, and I look forward to working with colleagues and stakeholders to realise that.”

Steve Montgomery, First Rail Managing Director, said: “Matthew brings a wealth of experience to the role with a passion and energy for delivering for passengers and our partners.  As we work to complete the roll out of the new Nova fleets and support major rail enhancement programmes this is an exciting time for the customers and communities TPE serves, and we are really pleased to have Matthew joining the TPE team.”

Photo credit: FirstGroup

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