A FORMER Bolton schoolboy who is in charge of Britain's rail infrastructure has been knighted.

Network Rail chairman Ian McAllister, aged 64, received his award in the New Year's Honours List for services to transport.

Sir Ian was a pupil of Thornleigh Salesian College between 1954 and 1961, after his parents had moved to the Chorley area from Glasgow, where he was born.

He said: "I was thrilled to learn of this news.

"Whilst it is a huge personal honour for me it is also, I hope, a recognition of how much the railway has improved and of the extraordinary dedication and commitment of the railway men and women of Britain."

After leaving Bolton, Sir Ian studied economics at London University before joining motor manufacturer Ford as a finance trainee in 1964.

He worked with the firm in both the USA and Germany later went on to become chairman and managing director of Ford Britain.

Sir Ian was appointed chairman of Network Rail in October 2002, following the acquisition of Railtrack plc.

He is also chairman of the Carbon Trust and a director of the Energy Savings Trust, alongside his membership of many other business organisations.

In 1993, he was the principal guest at the Bolton and Bury Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner and spoke of his "fond memories" of the town.

Sir Ian, who is married with three sons and a daughter, was awarded the CBE in 1996. He now lives in Essex.