The winner of the Outstanding Personal Contribution (Senior Management)in the National Rail Awards 2024 was Tim Shoveller, CEO, Freightliner.
When Tim Shoveller took over as Freightliner CEO last summer, he was already steeped in more than three decades’ worth of experience in distinguished frontline and managerial roles in passenger and infrastructure operations.
Having started life as a self-proclaimed trainspotter at Reading station and a volunteer at the Mid-Hants Railway, he rejected university to begin his formal career as a trainee driver and guard with British Rail in Guildford in 1992.
Shoveller soon climbed the ranks in the early era of privatisation, as increasingly senior roles followed at Eurostar, Virgin Trains and Midland Mainline.
When the latter franchise (which had been owned by National Express) passed to Stagecoach in 2007, Shoveller was promoted to the top job as managing director of East Midlands Trains.
In the next 12 years he switched over to lead South West Trains before managing Stagecoach’s entire rail division from 2016, until his move to Network Rail three years later.
Shoveller was placed in charge of NR’s sprawling North West & Central Region for the next four years, as part of the infrastructure manager’s devolution and ‘putting passengers first’ agendas.
His profile was raised higher still after being designated the rail industry’s lead negotiator with the RMT union during successive waves of industrial action that began in early 2022.
The bruising and protracted negotiations were only fully concluded with a pay deal, job security guarantees, and potential changes in working practices last November.
In March 2023, it was announced that Shoveller would begin his present task in the freight sector at Freightliner six months later.
He said on his appointment that the priority was to “lead the team to optimise the core business for our customers and to drive growth in new markets in the UK and Europe”.
A frequent speaker at industry events, Shoveller has emerged as a key proponent of the Government’s rail reform agenda - including plans to establish a new Great British Railways public body to deliver strategic direction in areas including infill electrification.
The NRA judges said: Tim Shoveller started on the railway as a guard at South West Trains.
“His career trajectory has been stellar, involving various train operating companies and Network Rail positions at increasingly senior levels. A stint at Stagecoach as managing director of its rail business was followed by three years in the cauldron of Network Rail as its Regional Director North West and Central, culminating in him becoming the CEO of the Freightliner Group in July 2023.
“Tim provided inspirational leadership to South West Trains and as Route MD at Network Rail, playing a pivotal part in setting up Great British Railways.
“He has now spent more than a year with Freightliner and led the wider campaign for a doubling of rail freight traffic in the UK. He is also a manager for the future.”
Shoveller has served as Chairman of the Railway Benefit Fund for more than seven years and sits on its Nominations and Remuneration Committee. He is also a fellow of the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators.
Go to our results story for a list of all the winners at the 2024 National Rail Awards, together with more pictures from the event at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel, Park Lane, London on 12th September.
Comment as guest
Comments
No comments have been made yet.