David Higgins seems to have hit the ground running, announcing a radical new structure for Network Rail on the Friday, and a major multi-million pound tie-up with one of the country’s biggest retailers by the Monday.

Network Rail’s new chief executive has come in at an incredibly busy time for the both the organisation and the industry, and hopefully his plan for devolved business units will give more power and responsiveness to route directors, leaving him free to deal with the widest strategic issues.

The company is saddled with quite a few problems from the past – this week’s Potters Bar guilty plea is one such reminder – but hopefully Higgins’ promised emphasis on safety and accountability will clamp down on some of that. There will be goodwill in the industry as he sets about his tasks; let’s hope he can follow through on his promises.