Rock Infrastructure and Rock Rail Limited have announced the appointment of Nick Watson from 1st September 2016.

Rock Infrastructure is focused on the development of large scale infrastructure projects. As well as being the public sector developer partner for the Mersey Gateway toll road bridge, Rock Infrastructure is the equity developer of its sister company, Rock Rail. With its innovative approach to funding rolling stock in the UK, Rock Rail has recently seen many successes. Earlier this year Rock Rail struck a deal with Govia Thameslink Railway to finance its replacement suburban train fleet on the Great Northern route and it is currently in the process of closing the deal for the acquisition of 378 new electric and Bi-mode vehicles for use on the newly granted East Anglia Franchise.

Nick has worked in the rolling stock market for over 17 years, having started with HSBC Rail (now Eversholt Rail Group) in 1999. From 2008 – 2013, he was a member of the executive team at Hitachi Rail Europe, when he worked with Mark Swindell, Founding Partner of Rock Rail, as the Hitachi commercial lead on the Intercity Express Trains project. More recently Nick was UK Sales Director at Siemens Rail Systems and General Manager for UK and Ireland at Nomad Digital.

He brings with him a wealth of experience and a comprehensive knowledge of the UK and European rolling stock market.

Nick Watson states:

“I am delighted to be joining Rock at such an exciting time and to be working with Mark once again. Rock has introduced genuinely innovative funding solutions to the UK rolling stock market and I look forward to contributing to its continued growth and success.”

Mark Swindell, Founding Partner of Rock Infrastructure and Rock Rail, said:

“I enjoyed working with Nick Watson (then Head of Commercial and Business Planning at Hitachi Rail Europe), on developing the innovative Intercity Express Programme (IEP) project from 2008 until I left to found Rock Infrastructure in 2011. He is extremely collaborative and has a deep understanding of the rolling stock market from both the manufacturer and ROSCO perspective. We are pleased to welcome Nick to the Rock team. “