Track Access Manager

Freightliner is the UK's largest maritime intermodal logistics operator, transporting containers from all major deep‑sea ports to our national network of inland terminals, as well as a leading operator in the UK Heavy Haul rail freight market. Freightliner has operations across Europe offering both Intermodal and Heavy Haul rail freight services seamlessly connecting European countries and the UK.

In the UK the Freightliner Group operates under a number of legal entities including Freightliner Group Ltd, Freightliner Heavy Haul Ltd, Freightliner Ltd, Pentalver Transport Ltd, and Pentalver Cannock Ltd.

The Track Access Manager is responsible for ensuring that Freightliner’s access rights within the Track Access Contract are accurate, up‑to‑date, and fully aligned with operational and strategic needs. The role will lead the optimisation and negotiation of Train Planning Rules and Standard Possession Opportunities with Network Rail to secure improved timetable performance. It will own and manage network capability through the Network Change process.

Working strategically across industry programmes, the postholder will influence Network Rail’s infrastructure schemes to deliver improved capability for freight operations and ensure Freightliner’s capacity requirements are fully represented within timetable recasts and cross‑industry planning forums.

• Ensure Freightliner’s access rights are accurate and up‑to‑date, maintaining alignment with operational requirements through ongoing management of the Track Access Contract.
• Review, respond to, and negotiate all Network Change proposals from Network Rail, safeguarding Freightliner’s capability and ensuring changes deliver operational benefit.
• Support Claims team in submission of contractual claims relating to Network Change proposals.
• Lead the negotiation and optimisation of Timetable Planning Rules, identifying deficiencies, proposing amendments, and securing improvements to timetable capacity and performance.
• Negotiate Standard Possession Opportunities, proactively challenging Network Rail to minimise impact on freight services and secure more efficient possession arrangements.
• Develop and implement Supplemental Agreements to ensure Freightliner’s Track Access Contracts accurately reflect current and future operational needs.
• Influence Network Rail infrastructure projects and industry programmes, ensuring future schemes deliver enhanced capability and long‑term benefits for freight operations.
• Represent Freightliner in timetable recasts and cross‑industry planning forums, ensuring freight capacity requirements are fully understood, protected, and embedded in future plans.
• Proactively challenge existing business processes, introducing new initiatives and improvements that add value to the business.
• Promote strong collaboration and information flow across commercial, operational, and planning teams to embed best practice and support effective decision‑making.
• Provide expert strategic and technical advice on track access, capacity allocation, and network capability to senior stakeholders within Freightliner.

• Accuracy of access rights maintained in the Track Access Contract
• Timely response to Network Change proposals
• Number of improvements secured to Train Planning Rules
• Number of Standard Possession Opportunities positively amended
• Timetable paths secured for Freightliner during recasts
• Reduction in possession‑related impact on freight services
• Number of infrastructure schemes influenced to secure freight capability benefits
• Delivery of business process improvements
• Quality of engagement and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders

• Strong knowledge of Parts D, G and J of the Network Code.
• Understanding of railway signalling principles and operating practices.
• Good knowledge of national railway geography and Freightliner’s operational footprint.
• High‑level understanding of train planning disciplines, systems and processes.

• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to evaluate options using data…