The Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce welcomed Phil Verster, Managing Director of the new ScotRail Alliance, as guest speaker at its Breakfast Connections event on Thursday, 27 August 2015.

Phil shared the motivation and vision of the new partnership between Abellio ScotRail and Network Rail in Scotland with the 80-strong business audience at The Royal College of Surgeons.

Phil Verster, managing director of the ScotRail Alliance, said: “The ScotRail Alliance is all about connecting Scotland, bringing people and communities together and putting the customer first in everything we do.

“We want to continually improve what we offer our customers – not just for travel, but for wider social and economic development across Scotland.

“We want the railway to act as a catalyst for economic growth, both through our investment in our infrastructure, and also by supporting Scottish produce and services on our trains and in our station facilities.”

David Birrell, chief executive at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, added: “Transport connectivity is essential to ensuring the ongoing economic success of Edinburgh and Scotland. Confidence is growing and the business community in the capital is hungry for a fully integrated transport system.

“Rail connectivity is core to this vision. It is great to hear how the ScotRail Alliance is focused on delivering shorter journey times and increased capacity on some of our busiest routes as well as new lines connecting businesses with customers, people with jobs and tourist attractions with new visitors.”

The ScotRail Alliance is a close working relationship between Abellio ScotRail and Network Rail. While remaining separate companies, both organisations are working to achieve common aims and objectives led by a single managing director and senior management team.

ScotRail Alliance Key stats:

• There are around 7,200 ScotRail Alliance staff
• The ScotRail Alliance delivers 93 million journeys per year
• ScotRail Alliance is responsible for 358 stations and 2,800km of track
• The ScotRail Alliance operates more than 2,300 services per day