The managing director of East Midlands Railway (EMR) has stepped down with immediate effect as passengers face a summer of cancellations on its services between London St Pancras and Nottingham.
Transport UK, which owns EMR, said that Will Rogers, who had held the role since January 2020, was leaving – with Merseyrail MD Neil Grabham taking over as interim replacement.
Mr Rogers joined EMR in January 2020, just before the Covid pandemic.
EMR announced a temporary reduction of its Intercity timetable following ongoing service reliability and maintenance issues with Hitachi Rail's new Class 810 fleet that “significantly impacted upon EMR’s ability to run a consistent Intercity service”.
From 20 July, hundreds of services on the EMR Intercity timetable were cancelled on the Midland mainline, including around 20 fast trains a day connecting London, Sheffield and Nottingham. The Class 810 fleet was introduced last year following a three-year delay to provide a smooth transition from the existing EMR Class 222 fleet.
There was also disruption after two EMR trains crashed near Bedford in June, killing one of the drivers and leaving many passengers injured
Dominic Booth, Transport UK CEO, said: “Will stepped in to lead EMR shortly after we first secured the contract. He has been instrumental in delivering exceptional service to our customers and has embodied the Transport UK delivery-first mentality. In recent weeks, Will has also given his all in responding to the tragic incident at Bedford South. I would like to thank Will for all his efforts and wish him the best in the future.”
EMR is due to return to public ownership next year.
Will Rogers, outgoing EMR Managing Director, said: “It has been a privilege to lead EMR since 2020 and to support our teams through a period of significant change. I am sad to say goodbye to a business and to colleagues who have meant so much to me.
“I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside such talented, committed and caring people, and I will always be grateful for the experiences, friendships and memories we’ve shared. But it is the right time for me to step back and spend some more time with my family, and I would like to thank you all for your support, your friendship and for allowing me to be part of this journey. It has been a privilege.”
Neil Grabham said: "I am genuinely pleased to be returning to EMR on an interim basis and to have the opportunity to work alongside colleagues once again. EMR has always held a special place for me, and I know first-hand the dedication, professionalism and commitment that exists across the business. I look forward to reconnecting with colleagues and supporting the team as we continue to deliver for our customers and communities."
