WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: Railway Heritage Committee


WSR Chairman appointed to Railway Heritage Committee


• Issued by ATOC...

The Secretary of State for Transport has appointed Chris Austin, Director of Public Policy at the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) to the Railway Heritage Committee.

The Committee is sponsored by the Department for Transport to identify those railway records and railway artefacts of future value to the nation, of general interest of the public and for research and scholarship, to ensure that they ultimately reside in good condition in appropriate locations. Chris is one of six public appointments announced today to serve on the Railway Heritage Committee.

Announcing the appointment, Transport Minister Tom Harris said: "The Railway Heritage Committee continues to ensure that our important railway legacy is not lost to the nation. The members' range of experience and knowledge will enable them to be strong champions of our rail heritage and help drive forward the work and profile of the Committee." Speaking on his appointment Chris Austin said:“The railway has had a profound and beneficial effect on society over almost two centuries, and continues to do so in helping to meet today’s transport needs in a sustainable way. So, I am delighted to be appointed to serve on the Railway Heritage Committee, where I can use my railway experience to support the proper conservation of this rich heritage.”

Chris is ATOC’s Director of Public Policy supporting the railway through closer links between train operators and key stakeholders and strengthening ATOC’s understanding and articulation of rail and transport policy issues at national and regional levels.

He is also Chairman of the West Somerset Railway, Britain’s longest preserved railway and winner of the Ian Allan award as Independent Railway of the Year in December 2006.

Before joining ATOC in 2005, Chris was at the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) which he joined in 1999 and was, on leaving, Executive Director, Community Rail Development, developing the Government’s Community Rail Strategy.

He has over 40 years of experience of the railways, working at British Rail in a number of key management roles, notably as Director of Policy and Parliamentary Affairs for the British Railways Board.

For his services to the rail industry, he was awarded the OBE in January 2006.

ATOC
20 November 2007