Network Rail’s Southern Region has announced that David Davidson has been appointed to lead its operations in Kent and South East London, one of the busiest rail networks in the country.

David takes up his post today, Monday, 12th June where he succeeds Fiona Taylor and Adrian Hanstock who were the first in Network Rail history to share a directorship.

Since October last year, David has been interim route director for Network Rail’s Western route.

He led efforts to improve train performance and prepared for introducing two timetable changes. Before then, he was Operations Director for the Anglia route where he led its team through Covid, upheavals caused by industrial action, and Operation London Bridge.

David’s career on the railway started in 2006 as a General Management Graduate on the former Wales and Marches area of the Western route based in Cardiff. His career has also taken him to Derby, Ipswich, Washington DC, and New York.

David spent three years with Network Rail Consulting where he undertook roles in performance, operations, and control management, working on some of the world’s busiest transport networks.

Network Rail’s Kent route is one of the country’s busiest and most congested routes, where Southeastern carries over 400,000 passengers on more than 1,600 trains daily.

David said: “I’m delighted to be joining Kent route, which is a critical part of the network connecting passengers in London, Kent and the wider southeast of England. This route plays an important role in supporting commuters, leisure travellers, connecting the country with Europe as well as key freight services.

“I’m eager to continue building on my most recent experience as interim route director of Western route and I’m looking forward to working with the fantastic and hardworking colleagues in Kent route as well as our many partners across the route, particularly Southeastern.”

Ellie Burrows, regional managing director for Network Rail’s Southern region, said: “We help thousands of commuters get to work and home again every day, and carry thousands of leisure travellers to support Kent’s thriving economy and year-round tourism.

“I’m really excited to welcome David, who brings a wealth of incredible railway knowledge that will help us deliver a safe, reliable and thriving railway for South East London, Kent and East Sussex, with a focus on putting customers at the heart of everything we do.

“I’d also like to thank Fiona and Adrian, who have seen us through the challenges of Covid and industrial action, while overseeing billions of pounds of investment throughout CP6 to make the railway safer and more reliable for our passengers.”