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Nexus director who headed metro extension quits

A Nexus director who spearheaded projects to bring the Metro system to Sunderland and modernise the network in a £385m programme has left the organisation to pursue new career opportunities in the UK and abroad.

Ken Mackay, the Director of Rail and Infrastructure at Nexus, was at forefront of the £100m project to extend the Tyne and Wear Metro to Wearside in 2002.

Ken joined Nexus from British Rail in 1994 as the Project Director responsible for overseeing Sunderland Direct – the name given to the scheme.

He saw his work come to fruition in April 2002 when the first Metro trains began operating into Sunderland, with the line officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen.

This was a landmark project which for the first time in the UK saw light rail Metro services sharing the same tracks as other heavy rail trains on infrastructure, owned and managed by Network Rail.

Ken went on to run the Metro system for three years, and then as Director of Rail and Infrastructure for Nexus he has been responsible for delivering the £385m Metro all change modernisation programme.

Ken said: “I have achieved what I wanted to at Nexus and now it’s time to move on. It has been a thoroughly enjoyable time but I’m not ready to hang up my boots just yet.”

Ken left his role at Nexus on 2 August and is now looking for new work challenges. He has not ruled out working abroad.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nexus .