24/08/2007

Stagecoach Group today (24 August 2007) announced the appointment of the Managing Director of East Midlands Trains, the new train company for the East Midlands and South Yorkshire area.

Tim Shoveller (34) joins Stagecoach from Virgin Trains where, as Business Development Director and previously Operations Director, he played a key role in the success of Virgin West Coast.

He has 15 years’ experience in the industry, having held senior positions in several railway businesses including Virgin Trains, Midland Mainline and Eurostar.

Speaking on his appointment, Tim Shoveller said: “I am hugely excited at being asked to lead East Midlands Trains. Our new company will inherit some of the most highly professional employees in the industry, people who have shown they can consistently out-perform other rail companies. Together we will deliver significant improvements for business and leisure passengers in the East Midlands.

“We have a tremendous opportunity in November when Eurostar services start sharing our London terminus at St Pancras. We will be actively looking to partner with the towns and cities we serve to promote easy access to and from South Yorkshire, the East Midlands and Europe.”

Ian Dobbs, Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group’s rail division, said: “We are really pleased that Tim is joining us from our sister company Virgin Trains. He has a wealth of experience on the railway which will be of enormous benefit to us in launching this exciting new railway for the region.”

ENDS

For more information, please contact Lisa Davies or Carmel Pernicano at East Midlands Trains on 020 7983 6199 or visit the company’s website at www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk.

Notes to Editor

1) A photograph of Tim Shoveller is available on request.

2) Tim Shoveller was Operations Director and Deputy Managing Director at Virgin West Coast and before that was Operations Director at Midland Mainline. He has recently been awarded the Fellowship of the Institution of Railway Operators and is Chair of the South East Area Committee. He lives with his family near Kettering in Northamptonshire.

3) East Midlands Trains, run by Stagecoach Group, starts its seven-year-and-four-month franchise on Sunday 11 November 2007 at 2am. Highlights of the company’s plans include around £90 million of investment in station and train improvements, more CCTV cameras, extra car park spaces, improved journey times and better performance.

4) Stagecoach Group is a leading international transportation group, with extensive bus and rail operations in the UK and North America. Stagecoach operates the South Western rail franchise, which includes the South West Trains and Island Line networks, and also has a 49% shareholding in Virgin Rail Group.