THE BOSS of Hampshire’s rail network has said his company needs to win the “hearts and minds” of passengers.

Tim Shoveller was speaking as he was grilled by MPs on a major shake-up of the region’s railway network.

In the biggest changes for 15 years, South West Trains and Network Rail formed a joint management team eight weeks ago. The roles had been split when British Rail was privatised in the mid-1990s.

The changes were agreed after a drop in performance and passenger satisfaction levels.

Mr Shoveller, the managing director of Network Rail, was giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee at Westminster yesterday.

He told them the new deal was “game changing” for the rail industry because companies would no longer focus on their own interests.

But it would take “several years” for the changes to have an effect on the service.

Louise Ellman, chairman of the committee, was sceptical and warned that rail-users might not be the winners from the shake-up.

She said: “If you are left to your own devices, it doesn’t necessarily mean that passenger benefits will follow. I am looking for answers here.

“There’s no point just saying ‘everything’s going to benefit’ – life’s not like that.”

Mr Shoveller said each company would be held individually accountable for its own responsibilities.

He said the battle for hearts and minds also included making sure staff were happy with the new arrangements.

Speaking after giving evidence, he told the Daily Echo that the recent upgrade of Southampton station was a “great example” of the companies working together, pledging that the London-bound line would be improved after the Olympics had finished.