Frimley, UK, 2016-Nov-15
Vernon Barker has a proven track record in railway management with a strong focus on safety and customer service. After over 15 years in senior managerial roles within First Group’s rail businesses, including Managing Director of UK Rail, Barker has been running his own consultancy for the past year providing high level strategic counsel to the rail industry. He is currently working with Transport for the North as Northern Powerhouse Rail Director. After an early career in financial consultancy, Barker started his first role in the rail sector in 1990 and was awarded an OBE in 2011 for services to the industry.
In his new role, Vernon Barker will lead the Rail Systems business in the UK, overseeing some 850 employees, contracts with nine different operators and maintenance activities at eight Siemens-built train care facilities and at a number of shared facilities. Siemens currently has some 380 trains in passenger service in the UK and this figure is set to more than double by 2018 through projects such as the Class 707 and the 115 new Desiro City units currently being delivered on the Thameslink line.
Vernon Barker said:
“I am relishing the opportunity to lead one of the UK’s key rail organisations. Siemens’ Rail Systems business not only has a great reputation for the delivery and long-term maintenance of high quality trains, but also a firm commitment to furthering the industry in the UK by developing the rail supplier base and investing in the skills needed for the future.
“It is an exciting and challenging time for our industry as we look ahead to major infrastructure projects such as High Speed Two whilst addressing current issues around capacity, connectivity and digitalisation. I am looking forward to bringing my experience from previous roles to Siemens and maintaining the momentum that has been achieved by Steve Scrimshaw and the entire Rail Systems team.”
Scrimshaw has strongly contributed to the growth and success of Rail Systems in the UK over the past nine years, as well as delivering the company’s commitment to developing skills across the sector through investment in projects such as the National Training Academy for Rail (NTAR) in Northampton.
Gordon Wakeford, Managing Director of the Mobility Division at Siemens UK, said:
“We are delighted to have secured a rail leader of Vernon’s calibre at such an important time for Rail Systems. He has a proven track record of success in the sector and will bring invaluable experience and insight into the role.
“I am confident that Vernon is the right person to lead our dynamic Rail Systems team and believe that under his leadership we will continue to build on our strong position in the UK.”
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Notes to editors
About Siemens
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of gas and steam turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2015, which ended on September 30, 2015, Siemens generated revenue of €75.6 billion and net income of €7.4 billion. At the end of September 2015, the company had around 348,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
