http://www.modern-railways.com April 2019 Modern Railways 61
for some years, but customers were fed up with
engaging with an industry perceived as difficult to
deal with’ says Mr Reeve. ‘We set Network Rail the
challenge of improving its attitude to rail freight,
and our freight customers now speak as advocates
of the company.’ Mr Reeve says the co-operation
involved in creating the south-facing connection
at Blackford can be seen as a statement of intent;
construction of the associated terminal is the
responsibility of Highland Spring itself, the rail
industry having completed its part of the project.NEW BROOM AT NETWORK RAIL
Speaking of Network Rail, Scotland already
has its own distinct structure. With a formal
alliance between ScotRail and NR and
Alex Hynes as alliance managing director,
the ethos is very much ‘Team Scotland’.
Incoming NR Chief Executive Andrew Haines
has set out his plans for reorganising the company
following his 100-day review, and Bill Reeve is
cheered by the prospect. ‘We really appreciated the
serious constructive engagement with Andrew as
he formulated his plan’ he says. ‘It’s so refreshing
to engage with a Network Rail Chief Executive
who starts out understanding how the railway
works. It’s clear he shares our view that the HQ
functions had grown too much and there was a
disconnect from passengers and freight customers.’
The changes proposed by Mr Haines will not
affect the existence of the alliance in Scotland,
which will continue. Indeed, as Mr Reeve points
out, Alex Hynes will take on added responsibility
under the new structure, including for project
delivery and strategic planning. Mr Reeve says
the role becomes more like General Manager
of Scotland’s railway, but is fully supportive:
‘the intent of the alliance has been frustrated
by the fact that the Managing Director does
not have responsibility for some core functions’
he says. ‘We welcome the principles of devolution
and the renewed customer focus that are
proposed, and the Scottish Government will
continue to lobby for complete devolution
and the transfer of asset ownership.’ aCarstairs: unit No 380105 crawls round the 15mph curve at the junction with
the 12.37 Ayr to Edinburgh service on 15 June 2018. Ian LothianHighland Spring progress: No 170406 heads south past the newly-installed
connection for the freight terminal at Blackford with the 10.43 Aberdeen to
Glasgow Queen Street service on 17 January 2019. Ian LothianElectrics on the E&G: No 385112 (left) was the rear unit on the 14.00 Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh
Waverley, passing No 385109 on the 13.41 Alloa to Queen Street service at Croy on 4 February 2019. Ian Lothian058-061_MR_Apr 2019_scotland.indd 61 12/03/2019 15:05