- Will Rogers is leaving East Midlands Railway with immediate effect, as confirmed by the operator's owner, Transport UK.
- Transport UK announced that Rogers, who became Managing Director in January 2020, is departing today (July 27).
- The statement indicated that Rogers had decided to step back and spend more time with his family.
- Rogers expressed that it was the right time to leave, stating, "It has been a privilege to lead EMR since 2020."
- Neil Grabham, Managing Director of Merseyrail, will replace Rogers as Interim Managing Director of EMR starting July 28.
- Rogers' departure comes amid ongoing train problems, including issues with the new Class 810 fleet.
- The performance of the Class 810 fleet has "fallen below the levels we and our customers expect," leading to a timetable change.
- Ongoing shortages of stock and "teething problems" with new trains have contributed to EMR's operational issues.
Will Rogers has left his role as Managing Director of East Midlands Railway (EMR) with immediate effect, as announced by Transport UK on July 27. Rogers, who took the helm in January 2020, stated it was “the right time” to step back and spend more time with his family.12345
During his tenure, Rogers faced significant challenges, including ongoing issues with the Class 810 Aurora fleet, which have led to a decline in service performance. The introduction of emergency timetables was necessitated by delays in the fleet's rollout, with Transport UK acknowledging that the performance had “fallen below the levels we and our customers expect.”
Dominic Booth, CEO of Transport UK, praised Rogers for being “instrumental in delivering exceptional service” and embodying a “delivery-first mentality.” Rogers expressed his sadness at leaving, stating, “I am sad to say goodbye to a business and to colleagues who have meant so much to me.”
Neil Grabham, previously Managing Director at Merseyrail and Customer Services Director at EMR, will take over as Interim Managing Director starting July 28. Grabham expressed enthusiasm about returning to EMR, stating, “I am genuinely pleased to be returning to EMR on an interim basis.” The leadership change comes as EMR continues to address the “teething problems” associated with its new fleet and an ongoing shortage of stock.67
“Rogers, who led EMR since January 2020, cited a desire to spend more time with family as a reason for his departure. His replacement, Neil Grabham, will take over as Interim Managing Director starting July 28, as EMR faces challenges with the Class 810 fleet and recent timetable changes.”
Rail Magazine
