Eastern Promise: Elaine Holt Interview

Last year saw Elaine Holt take charge at Directly Operated Railways, the DfT’s in-house train company. James Dark spoke to her about her plans to set up the East Coast operator for the future and test ideas that could affect the whole industry

Elaine Holt

Elaine Holt

Elaine Holt (right) was appointed to her current role by transport secretary Lord Adonis (left)

Elaine Holt (right) was appointed to her current role by transport secretary Lord Adonis (left)

Elaine Holt with her former employer, FirstGroup chief executive Sir Moir Lockhead

Elaine Holt with her former employer, FirstGroup chief executive Sir Moir Lockhead

In July, transport secretary Lord Adonis vetoed a deal being discussed between National Express Group and Department for Transport civil servants which would have seen NEG’s stricken East Coast franchise bailed out with a new management contract. Facing losses running into hundreds of millions of pounds as a result of its failure to meet ambitious growth targets, NEG was forced to hand back the franchise to the DfT. For only the second time since privatisation a train operating company...