Mr John Fullerton has been announced as the new Chief Executive Officer (Designate) of the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), the wholly government owned company that manages the nation’s interstate rail network.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Finance Minister Penny Wong today endorsed the ARTC Board’s decision to appoint Mr Fullerton who will take up his position on 1 February 2011.

“Mr Fullerton joins the ARTC at a most important stage of its operations,” Mr Albanese said.

“The organisation is delivering a massive capital works program which is helping transform the interstate rail network by increasing reliability and efficiency.”

“Strong, strategic management is critical to continue the jobs and growth that are flowing from this big capital investment,” he said.

Mr Fullerton for the past six years has been CEO of the Asia Pacific Transport Pty Ltd and Freight Link Pty Ltd and is responsible for companies associated with the ownership and operation of the Adelaide to Darwin railway.

Prior to this Mr Fullerton was Divisional General Manager (Operation Services) with Pacific National and has held senior roles in other rail organisations.

“I am delighted to welcome Mr Fullerton to the ARTC,” said Finance Minister Penny Wong.

“He has great experience as a leader in rail infrastructure and he will work closely with the Government as we continue to modernise and expand our national rail system.”

“Let me formally thank the current CEO David Marchant who has led the ARTC through an extraordinary period of transformation and growth,” Ms Wong said.