Network Rail has appointed a new Route Director on its North & East route who will be responsible for running the railway in Yorkshire and the North East of England.

Jason Hamilton will take over the role from Matt Rice, who is leaving the organisation after four and a half years as Route Director to join train operator Northern.

Jason is in his 16th year at Network Rail and most recently has been a part of the East Coast route’s executive team as Route Programme Director (Works Delivery), leading a multi-disciplinary maintenance, renewals, and response principal contractor organisation.

He has previous experience working for Network Rail in major projects on the Great Western and South East routes as part of the Crossrail Programme before moving north and continuing in further leadership roles.


As Route Director for the organisation's North & East route, Jason will hold overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of the rail network throughout Yorkshire and the North East, including in places such as Sheffield, Leeds, Hull, and Middlesbrough.

He will also oversee key infrastructure projects such as Network Rail’s involvement in the Northumberland Line, which will see passenger services reinstated 60 years after they were ended, and many Access for All projects at stations including Bridlington, Garforth, and Selby, making rail travel easier for many passengers.

Jason said: "I am thrilled to have been appointed as the new Route Director on Network Rail’s North & East route. This part of the network hosts major arterial routes across the north of England, connecting major towns and cities which are so crucial to our passengers. It will also see transformational infrastructure investment over the coming years and plays a major role in the north of England economy.

"There is already some very good work taking place by colleagues across the route and I am looking forward to seeing that first hand as I visit various parts of the network."