INLAND Rail has appointed an interim CEO while it continues its search for a permanent chief executive.

Robert Rust, chair of the Inland Rail Board has been appointed to the interim position.

His appointment follows an announcement on Thursday that acting chief executive Rebecca Pickering had stepped down.

“With over 40 years’ experience in the delivery of major projects in both the private and public sectors, Mr Rust has an acute understanding of the many complexities of delivering a major infrastructure project like Inland Rail,” the Inland Rail team said.

Mr Rust was appointed chair when the board was first announced – along with the new Inland Rail subsidiary company – in July this year.