THE director of the capital's controversial trams service has become the latest executive to defect to the scandal-hit operator of ScotRail.
Abellio has recruited Edinburgh Trams director and general manager Tom Norris along with Mike Connelly, the former public affairs boss of trams project manager Transport Initiative Edinburgh (Tie).
The moves were announced just days after the dismissal of the Netherlands-based Abellio's chief executive, Jeff Hoogesteger.
He lost his job a week ago without severerance pay after police carried out raids on the country's state-owned Dutch Railways Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS).
It followed a scandal over a contract to provide trains in the Limburg province of the country. Boss Timo Huges also resigned over the affair.
In Scotland, the RMT union has called for a public inquiry into the awarding of the ScotRail franchise earlier this year.
Mr Norris is leaving the trams after two and a half years, while Mr Connelly is Abellio's new communications and public affairs director.
A spokesman for Edinburgh Trams said the recruitment process for the £80,000 a year trams job is under way.
The trams began operating at the end of May last year after six years of disruption and a long-running dispute between Edinburgh City Council and contractors.
The project cost £776 million, more than the original £545m, and arrived three years late.
It is now the subject of a public inquiry by Lord Hardie.
There were earlier claims that the inquiry ordered by former First Minister Alex Salmond as soon as the project was completed this week could itself end up costing £2 million and take years to be completed.
Lord Hardie will chair the first hearing in Edinburgh on August 19 as a call was made for people and organisations who wish to be designated as core participants during the inquiry to come forward.
Mr Norris said: "It's been an absolute privilege for me to lead the Edinburgh Trams team for the last two and a half years.
"Thanks to our brilliant staff, passengers and supporters for making it such a positive experience.
"I'm looking forward to the next step in my career and will always look back at my time with Edinburgh Trams very fondly."
He said on the first birthday of the trams it was "an exciting day for all of us because it rounds up a hugely significant year for everyone involved".
"The success we've worked so hard to achieve is down to the commitment and hard work of everyone involved in delivering the service day in day out.
"We were absolutely delighted with the initial surge of interest when we launched, but even more grateful that the local and visiting public have continued to give us their support.
Lesley Hinds, chairwoman of Trams For Edinburgh, said: "I wish Tom all the best in his new role and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank him for his contribution to Edinburgh Trams over the past two and a half years."
Around five million journeys were taken on Edinburgh's trams in the scheme's first year of operation, about 370,000 ahead of the target set before launch.
Edinburgh Trams said it received a 95 per cent overall customer satisfaction rating following an independent UK-wide survey by Passenger Focus and operated with 99 per cent service reliability.
Earlier this week, RMT general secretary Mick Cash wrote to the Scottish Government requesting a public inquiry into Abellio's ScotRail franchise. This was because Mr Hoogesteger, who was based at Abellio's new headquarters in Glasgow, had co-signed the deal.
The firm also runs train operator Abellio Greater Anglia, and Northern Rail and Merseyrail in joint ventures with Serco, and buses in London and Surrey.
The franchise has been let for ten years with a break option exercise-able before the fifth anniversary, when performance will be assessed.
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