NATIONAL Express East Anglia (NXEA) has appointed James Steward as Area Manager Rural Routes. Mr Steward, who has worked in the railway industry for more than six years, now oversees an area including much of Suffolk and Norfolk, and incorporating the award-winning Bittern, Wherry, East Suffolk and Felixstowe branch lines.

NATIONAL Express East Anglia (NXEA) has appointed James Steward as Area Manager Rural Routes.

Mr Steward, who has worked in the railway industry for more than six years, now oversees an area including much of Suffolk and Norfolk, and incorporating the award-winning Bittern, Wherry, East Suffolk and Felixstowe branch lines.

His patch encompasses 38 stations in all, including the award-winning Wymondham station and out-of-the-way Berney Arms, which is popular with wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers.

“I will be focusing on delivering the best service possible for our customers using the rural train services on our network. I will also work to improve facilities and the standards of cleanliness on my stations. Another important element will be managing the train services for the big annual events in the area, such as the Lowestoft Air Show, Cromer Carnival and Worsted Festival,” he said.

“What I love most about my job are the wide range of people that I get to meet every day and the diverse organisations which I get to work in partnership with.”

His career in the railway industry began in 2002 as a management trainee and he has worked at Lowestoft, Yarmouth and Norwich stations, before being appointed as the youngest Group Station Manager on the National Express East Anglia network. He has a degree in Computer Science.

James, who has a degree in computer science, lives on the Norfolk /Suffolk border. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, walking and exploring the rail network.