Heads are set to roll in the rail industry following a governmental review of its structure – and interim managers will be in demand to oversee the shake-up.

That’s the claim of the recruitment company, Global Executives, which provides managers on short and medium-term contracts in the UK and Europe.

Managing director Nigel Corby said: “Since privatisation, the rail industry has become a minefield. There are too many cooks in the kitchen – the whole rail service needs to be rationalised.

“The train-operating companies need an immediate injection of management expertise to help them tackle the rail review.”

Transport secretary Alistair Darling this month announced a rethink of the rail industry. He told Parliament: “There are too many organisations, some with overlapping responsibilities. It has become increasingly clear that this gets in the way of effective decision-making and leads to unnecessary disputes. That is no way to run a railway.”