THE Cotswold Line Promotion Group, which represents passengers on the Oxford-Worcester Rail route, has a new chairman.

John Ellis, a former senior railway manager, was elected to replace Derek Potter at the group’s annual meeting.

Mr Potter, who has held office as the group’s secretary or chairman for the past 16 years, said he had “thoroughly enjoyed” the roles and would be happy to continue to serve as a committee member.

Mr Ellis, from Gloucestershire, said that the current project to redouble much of the line, including the section between Charlbury and Ascott-under-Wychwood, meant it was a key moment in its history.

He said: “We want to maximise the benefits of the redoubling for passengers and also think beyond it, to the resignalling of the Oxford and Worcester areas and the possibility of full redoubling in the future.”

Mr Ellis, a former production director of Railtrack and managing director of British Rail’s ScotRail division, is a trustee of the Campaign for Better Transport, a director of First GB Railfreight and chairman of the Railway Heritage Awards committee.

The group now has more than 1,700 members and reserves of almost £25,000.