TransPennine Express has appointed Lindsey Tien-Rhimes as its new Head of Programmes for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, placing her at the centre of one of the UK’s most significant rail transformation schemes.
Lindsey will oversee TPE’s role in delivering upgrades across the corridor between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, where electrification, track renewals and signalling improvements are reshaping rail travel across the Pennines.
With more than 11 years’ experience in rail infrastructure, Lindsey joins TPE from Network Rail, where she held senior roles including Head of Planning and Special Projects Manager. Her move to an operator marks a shift from infrastructure delivery to a customer-facing environment.
“It felt like a real development opportunity,” Lindsey said. “After more than a decade in infrastructure, I wanted to work for an operator where customers are at the heart of what they do, while being part of a programme that’s truly transformational.”
The next year will be pivotal for TRU, with major station upgrades under way at Dewsbury, Batley and Huddersfield, following the recent completion of Mirfield. The scale and pace of activity stand out.
“The variety, challenge and pace are what excite me the most,” Lindsey said. “The milestones this programme is hitting month by month would take years on other programmes.”
Beyond infrastructure outputs, Lindsey is clear about the wider impact.
“This work will leave a lasting legacy for the North. Seeing new infrastructure delivered, and teams coming together across the industry, is hugely rewarding.”
Collaboration across operators and infrastructure partners remains central to delivery.
“Working closely with Network Rail, Northern and other partners is already helping us achieve better outcomes for customers,” she said. “If we listen to each other’s perspectives, we get better results.”
She also underlined the importance of incremental progress in sustaining momentum.
“Those smaller steps along the way really build momentum and show progress,” she said.
For Lindsey, successful delivery is not just about assets, but system-wide performance.
“Delivery pressure is real,” she said. “Getting requirements right early helps avoid delays and rework and ensures we’re thinking about more than just assets — it’s about how the whole system works.”
Reflecting on her leadership approach, she added:
“You can’t be an expert in everything. But by supporting our teams and working together, we can deliver a programme that sets a new standard for the industry and leaves a legacy customers will feel for years to come.”
As TRU enters a decisive phase, TPE’s strengthened programme leadership signals a continued focus on integrating infrastructure upgrades with passenger outcomes across the North.
