WHILST THE '100-day plan'for Northern Trains, submitted on 8 June, was not as detailed as the Operator of Last Resort and the company had hoped, the company's new Managing Director Nick Donovan says it is making progress. DfT OLR Holdings Chair Richard George had previously said the uncertainty caused by Covid means it has created a prospectus rather than a traditional business plan. Mr George and OLR Chief Executive Robin Gisby were tasked with creating the plan when the OLR took over the franchise from Arriva at the beginning of March. Mr Donovan told Modem Railways he recognised a new political view at the Department for Transport which is'about getting this thing to work.' He highlighted the need to support staff as the business is turned around following an at times toxic political environment, saying:The people here deserve to be recognised for doing better as well, they've been beaten up for too long.' He also said there is a need to celebrate good news stories and raise morale, and the first steps in what Mr Donovan suggests will be'a long journey'include some team building.There's a rebuilding of trust that's needed; trust takes a long time to rebuild but I think there's a bit of time and the opportunity is there to do it' Mr Donovan said.
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