10 June 2005

Chief Executive for National Transport Agency announced

Transport Minister Nicol Stephen today announced the appointment of Malcolm Reed as the new Chief Executive of the national transport agency.

Dr Reed is currently Director General of Strathclyde Passenger Transport. He will take up his post in August.

Nicol Stephen said:

“I am very pleased that Malcolm Reed is to be the first Chief Executive of the new national transport agency. He is highly respected across all transport sectors in Scotland. He also has strong experience and a formidable record of delivery.

“This is an exciting time for transport in Scotland. We have record levels of investment, new rail powers and an ambitious programme of major projects.

“The next few years will be a challenging time and I have every confidence that Dr Reed’s experience and expertise will ensure the new transport agency gets off to the best possible start.”

Malcolm Reed said:

“I am excited by the challenges that lie ahead in heading up the new agency, but at the same time, the move is tinged with sadness at leaving SPTE. I have enjoyed leading the organisation during the last 8 years and have great respect for the professionalism and commitment of my staff. In actual fact, my tenure as Director General is the longest of my career and the new post at the National Transport Agency is the only job that could have attracted me away.

”I look forward to steering the new organisation to deliver the Scottish Executive’s transport objectives and ensure that the future planning of public transport services reflects the needs of the country in the 21st century.”

The national transport agency for Scotland will start at the end of this year and be based in Glasgow.

Dr Reed has been Director General of SPTE since 1997 and has led the organisation through a period of sustained growth in the level of public transport provision across west central Scotland. Major transport infrastructure projects like the re-opening of the Larkhall to Milngavie rail line, will begin operational service later this year.

He is a graduate and post graduate of Oxford University and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. His expertise achieved public recognition in the 2004 New Year Honours when he was made a CBE for services to the transport industry.

Over the next decade, the agency will be responsible for supporting the delivery of the Executive’s £3 billion capital investment programme of transport improvements for rail, tram and trunk roads.

Key responsibilities will be funding and managing the delivery of major capital projects such as the upgrade of Waverley station, the Glasgow and Edinburgh airport rail links, and the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. It will also be responsible for the trunk road network and the Scottish rail franchise, national concessionary travel schemes and integrated ticketing and travel information.

ends

Notes for News Editors

1. Dr Malcolm Reed is currently Director General of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive, a position he has held since 1997. He is a graduate and postgraduate of Oxford University and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He is currently a member of the Advisory Committee of the Rail Safety and Standards Board. He recently took a part-time secondment to the Scottish Executive as rail advisor, leading the joint SE/SPTE refranchising team. Dr Reed was made a CBE in the 2004 New Year Honours for services to the transport industry.

2. The National Transport Agency will be an executive agency, directly accountable to Scottish Ministers through its chief executive. No legislation is needed to set up the agency, however the agency will take responsibility for some of the powers proposed in the current Transport (Scotland) Bill such as working with regional transport partnerships.