The appointment of Mr Metcalfe, who takes up the post tomorrow, follows the surprise departure of Christopher Garnett after ten years with the company.

Although Mr Garnett announced he was leaving GNER in July, he agreed to stay on until the end of this month.

Mr Metcalfe has been with the rail firm since 1996 and is currently its chief operating officer. He will report directly to Bob MacKenzie, head of GNER's parent company, Sea Containers.

Meanwhile, GNER said directors Shaun Mills, Mike Gooddie and Clare Field would be leaving the group.

Mr MacKenzie said: "I believe this new organisational structure will serve us well to address the significant commercial challenges we have to face going forward.

"I would like to thank Shaun, Mike and Clare for their significant contribution in building GNER into the high-quality train operator that it is today."