SERCO-NED Railways has appointed HEIDI MOTTRAM managing director of its recently-awarded Northern Rail franchise.

The franchise starts on December 12 and covers rail services for the North-West and North-East.

Ms Mottram is currently commercial director of Sunderland-based Arriva Trains Northern and before that was operations director for Midland Mainline.

Before taking up her duties on December 12 she will be seconded from Arriva to join Serco-Ned from November 2.