TRAIN operator First TransPennine Express has appointed Nick Donovan as the company’s new managing director.

Mr Donovan (pictured), 48, succeeds Vernon Barker, who was appointed as managing director of First Group’s rail division in September.

Having joined the company as new trains project director, Mr Donovan has worked for FTPE since the start of its franchise in 2004.

In this role he successfully managed the introduction of a new 51-strong fleet of Class 185 diesel trains to the trans-Pennine route, which links Huddersfield and Dewsbury with cities across the north.

Most recently, Mr Donovan has been the company’s engineering director, managing relationships with train maintenance suppliers, leading on environmental initiatives to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions and running some of the country's most reliable trains.

He said: “I am delighted to be given this opportunity to take on the role and to build on the tremendous successes that have been achieved.

“There are a range of infrastructure projects upcoming and we are working closely with the Government to increase capacity and provide more carriages by 2014.

“My aim is to lead FTPE’s already successful team through these great opportunities and provide an even better service to our customers.”

Mr Donovan joined British Rail as an engineering management trainee in 1981. He worked in project development and tendering in the UK, Australia and Taiwan, working for Alstom from 1997 and joined First Group in 2001.