NORTHERN Rail operators Serco and Abellio have appointed Ian Bevan as interim managing director and Steven Butcher as interim deputy managing director.

Mr Bevan, who is currently finance director and deputy managing director, will step up to replace managing director Heidi Mottram, who lives in Holmfirth, when she leaves to join Northumbrian Water Group from March 1.

Mr Butcher, currently eastern area director, is promoted to interim deputy managing director with responsibility for strategic operational and external relations issues.

In a separate move, Stuart Draper has been promoted to engineering director, replacing Ruud Haket who has joined Abellio to lead their bids for UK rail franchises.