Former Yarra Trams executive Aline Frantzen will take up a new role as Chief Operating Officer for Melbourne’s suburban rail network services in April.

Ms Frantzen has had two decades in the public transport industry in Australia and abroad, including the last ten years with multinational public transport operator Keolis.

Metro Trains Melbourne says Ms Frantzen brings a wealth of knowledge in operational and customer experience including timetabling, asset management, strategic network planning and integration of rolling stock.

Ms Frantzen worked at Yarra Trams from 2000 to 2017 in business improvement, franchise contract bidding, planning and operations leadership, and was appointed Executive Director Service Delivery in 2016.

She moved to the UK in 2017 to serve as managing director of the Manchester Metrolink system, the largest tram network in the UK ,and in 2019 moved to KeolisTransit America as CEO of US Bus Operations.

“Aline is a passionate, committed and people-focussed engaging leader. She brings to the COO role at Metro Trains Melbourne global leadership experience in operational performance, continuous improvement, change management and stakeholder engagement,” Metro Trains said in a statement.

“Her mission every day will be to ensure that our passengers are at the heart of everything we do and she will always support our team to make sure this happens.”