Department for Transport

New appointment for chairman to the Wales Rail Passengers Committee
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date 19 May 2004 00:00
source Department for Transport
type Press release

Transport Minister Kim Howells today announced the appointment of Colin Foxall CBE, as Chairman of the Wales Rail Passengers Committee. Colin Foxall will head the body that represents the interests of rail passengers in Wales for the next four years.

Announcing the appointment, Kim Howells said:

"I am pleased to announce that Colin Foxall has been appointed as Chairman. Colin comes to the post from a strong background in the fields of commerce and the public sector. I am confident that he has the practical skills and knowledge to be a strong champion for rail passengers in Wales."

Notes for Editors

1. Biographical details

Colin Foxall lives in Devauden, Chepstow. He is a non-executive Director at Radian Asset Assurance Ltd. He was previously Deputy Chairman of NCM Credit Insurance in Amsterdam and CEO of NCM Credit Insurance UK Ltd, based in Cardiff. He was also Under Secretary at the Export Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD). This appointment will run for four years, from 16 May 2004 until 15 May 2008. The post attracts a salary of 18,307 per annum.

2. The Rail Passengers Council/Committees

Rail Passenger Committee Chairmen also become members of the Rail Passengers Council, the national railway passengers' watchdog.

The Rail Passengers Council and the eight regional Rail Passengers Committees were set up under the Railways Act 1993. Under provisions in the Transport Act 2000, sponsorship of the Rail Passenger Council and the Rail Passenger Committees transferred to the Strategic Rail Authority.

The Secretary of State for Transport appoints the Chairmen of the Rail Passenger Committees in England and Wales.

Rail Passenger Committees operate as watchdogs for users of Britain's rail service. Rail users who do not receive a satisfactory response to their complaint from a train operator can contact the appropriate RPC, which is able to take up the matter on their behalf.

In the case of closures of services or stations, the Rail Passenger Committees have the power to hold public hearings; they can report on possible hardships and propose amendments to alleviate them.

The Rail Passenger Committees can also consider any matter, which is referred to them by the Secretary of State and the Strategic Rail Authority, as well as any matter affecting the railway that they feel they should look into.

The address of the RPC Wales is:

St David's House
East Wing
Wood Street
Cardiff CF10 1ES
Phone 029 2022 7247
Fax 029 2022 3992
E-mail info.wales@railpassengers.org.uk

The Rail Passengers Council and Committee's website can be found at www.railpassengers.org.uk.

Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk

Railhub Archive ::: 2004-05-19 DfT-001