Queensland’s transport and main roads minister Mark Bailey says the appointment of a permanent chair for Queensland Rail will put the operator in good stead ahead of construction of the Cross River Rail project.
After serving as interim chair for the state-owned rail business for the past six months, David Marchant was named permanent chair on March 29.
Bailey said Marchant, part of QR’s board since 2015, had guided the operator with a steady hand during his interim term as chair.
“[Marchant] has been part of Queensland Rail’s team through the challenges of recent years and possesses the right mix of skills to lead that team as our region prepares for Cross River Rail,” Bailey said.
“South east Queensland’s transport infrastructure will undergo a major transformation in the coming years, and I look forward to David helping lead Queensland Rail as part of that change.”
Bailey said the state’s focus remained on making sustainable improvements across the rail network, to deliver better services for commuters.
“Queensland Rail has successfully navigated two holiday timetable stress periods, added 46,000 more commuter seats, rolled out more NGR trains on to more lines, and since October 2016 there are 212 train drivers who have been trained or are now in training,” the minister said.