James Richardson has been appointed as the new Managing Director of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), a major railway electrification project aimed at delivering faster, cleaner, and greener journeys for millions of people in the North of England.
Richardson brings a wealth of experience in large-scale infrastructure projects, having previously served as Managing Director of the Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture responsible for delivering the HS2 London tunnels.
James said: “Leading this ambitious infrastructure programme of national importance is a huge source of pride for me. It will benefit millions of people by improving the connectivity between towns and cities.
“TRU is making fantastic progress and already demonstrating how complex infrastructure can be delivered safely and efficiently. I can’t wait to get started working with such talented teams and individuals in order to see that continue to develop.”
Richardson has held key leadership positions within Skanska, including Infrastructure MD and Rail Sector Director. His extensive experience in the rail, road, and energy sectors spans projects such as HS1, M25DBFO, Crossrail, Northern Hub, Wessex Capacity Alliance, and Thameslink.
TRU has made substantial progress, recently awarding contracts worth approximately £3 billion to the West and East alliances. The first electric train service between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge is now operational, and the program is fully mobilized with 70 worksites across 70 miles.
Welcoming James, Rob McIntosh, Network Rail’s North West and Central Managing Director, said: “Given the scale of our works – one of the biggest programmes in Europe and carried out on a live railway – I am really happy we’ve appointed a very capable leader who can manage our unique challenges and lead TRU to continued success.”
Richardson will officially assume his role at TRU in the new year.
The Transpennine Route Upgrade, which is estimated to cost around £11 billion, involves a collaborative effort between track, train, timetable, and delivery partners. The program aims to deliver a reliable electric railway, support economic growth, and reduce the environmental impact of transportation.
TRU has already achieved significant milestones, including:
- Economic Investment: Investing £500 million in local businesses.
- Sustainable Employment: Recruiting 85% of its workforce from within a 40-mile radius.
- Skills Development: Committing to awarding 600 apprenticeships and delivering 25,000 hours of community volunteering.
- Inclusive Education: Engaging with over 100,000 young people through its inclusive education scheme.
- Accessibility and Capacity: Improving accessibility at stations, increasing services, and reducing road congestion through freight capacity enhancements.
Upon completion, TRU is expected to halve the time lost to delays on fast trans-Pennine services, reduce journey times between York and Manchester by up to 15%, and provide more reliable electric train services. These improvements will benefit passengers, communities, local economies, and the environment.
