THE group which will soon be running train services in and out of Basingstoke has appointed its top boss.

FirstGroup and MTR has announced that Andy Mellors, pictured, has been appointed as managing director of the new South Western rail franchise, which launches on August 20, 2017.

Mr Mellors has 25 years of experience in the industry and has held a number of senior leadership roles since joining FirstGroup in 2002. He is currently engineering director and deputy managing director at Great Western Railway, having previously held a similar role at First ScotRail.

Most recently, he has been responsible for leading the transformation of the GWR rolling stock fleet both through the introduction of new electric trains in the Thames Valley, and the imminent entry into service of the Intercity Express Trains.