Paul Maynard appointed new rail minister
Paul Maynard, the MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, has been appointed as the new rail minister in Boris Johnson’s government.
Maynard, a former government whip and junior transport minister, also served as a junior minister in the justice department from May to June this year.
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He will take over from Andrew Jones, the Tory MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough and will serve under Grant Shapps, the new transport secretary.
Darren Caplan, chief executive of the Railway Industry Association, said: “Much has changed in rail since the minister was last in the role.
“And with a planned rail industry restructure under the Williams review, a devolution reorganisation at Network Rail, and a new five year funding cycle beginning – all of which pose both opportunities and challenges to the companies that build, maintain and enhance our rail network – it is essential that we continue to build a healthy, sustainable, rail industry whilst all this is going on.
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“To achieve this, we hope the minister will help reduce ‘boom and bust’ in rail investment, deliver clear visibility of forthcoming enhancement projects, assist the sector in decarbonising by supporting electrification on intensively-used rail, and work with us on digitalising the network.”