Tasmanian Railway succeeds Pacific National

The board consists of Bob Annells as executive chairman, supported by Roger Gill, Bob Neil, Sarah Merridew and John Fullerton.

A former head of Tasmania’s Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation and former chief executive of Tourism Victoria, Mr Annells has more recently been chairman of Veolia Transport Australia and of several subsidiaries, including Melbourne metropolitan train operator Connex Melbourne and Mainco Melbourne, the maintainer of both the infrastructure and rolling stock for that system.

Tasmanian infrastructure minister Graeme Sturges said that Mr Gill would be interim chief executive while the board undertook a national search for a permanent head.

The launch came after the state government completed the purchase of the Tasmanian rail business from Asciano's Pacific National.

Mr Sturges said that Tasmanian Railway had assumed responsibility for the management and maintenance of all rail infrastructure and railway operations in Tasmania.

“For decades, Tasmanian rail has suffered from a lack of investment under previous operators, but I am confident that the arrangements the state government has put in place, along with the funding commitments we have already made to improve infrastructure, will provide a much brighter long term future for rail in Tasmania," he said

“Freight rail has an extremely important role to play in helping Tasmania meet its future freight demands."