The managing director of Lumo and Hull Trains is to step down.
Martijn Gilbert will step away from his position at the Newcastle open access rail firm with immediate effect. It is believed that he has left to take a position at another transport company.
Mr Gilbert – whose previous roles included a period leading bus company Go North East – was managing director of open access, tram and cable at transport giant First Group. As well as Lumo, which runs trains between Edinburgh, Newcastle and London, he oversaw Hull Trains and some public transport services in London.
Steve Montgomery, First Rail managing director, said: “After nearly three years as the managing director of our open access rail businesses, Tram Operations Limited and London Cableway, Martijn Gilbert has decided to pursue another leadership opportunity and will step away from his position with immediate effect.
“Martijn has led the team successfully in this period, achieving significant results and we wish Martijn well for the future.
“Stuart Jones, commercial director open access, will take on the remit of managing director of our open access businesses. Stuart has been instrumental in driving our open access strategy forward and will now focus on achieving that growth whilst driving performance excellence.
“Fran Barrett, business assurance director First Rail, will additionally take on the leadership of Tram Operations Limited and London Cableway on an interim basis.”
Earlier this week, Lumo’s parent group FirstGroup said it had returned to profit for the past year as it cheered progress in its bus and rail operations. The Scottish group’s rail business said it saw passenger numbers on its open access lines, which include Lumo and Hull Trains, grow to 2.9m for the year, up from 2.7m.
That came a week after Lumo was given approval to launch a new service between London and central Scotland along the West Coast mainline. The new route between London Euston and Stirling will take in stops at Milton Keynes Central, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert.
Lumo also wants to extend its service between London, Newcastle and Edinburgh to Glasgow and is awaiting regulatory approval.
