A TOP businessman who spent his schooldays in Bolton is heading the Government's quest to find a successor to Railtrack.

Ian McAllister, who is chairman and managing director of Ford Britain, is in charge of the high-powered team which is preparing a Company Limited by Guarantee bid to take over Railtrack's role as operator of the railway network.

Such a CLG would be a private sector company run on commercial lines but without the shareholders.

Any operating surplus would be re-invested in the rail network. Mr McAllister, who was born in Glasgow and later moved with his parents to Chorley, was a pupil at Thornleigh from 1954 to 1961 before going on to study economics at London University.

He joined Ford as a finance trainee in August 1964 and embarked on a successful career which included senior roles in Germany and America before achieving the top job in Ford of Britain in 1991.

Ford have agreed that 58-year-old Mr McAllister should be available for a part-time role -- which is likely to be watched closely by the city, politicians and a railway industry in considerable disarray. Mr McAllister said: "I do not underestimate the challenge which developing this bid represents.

"My experience at Ford has shown that, with the right management, investment and planning, companies can be transformed."

The CLG bid team will put forward a proposal to the Railtrack Administrator.

He will evaluate all the bids he receives before putting a proposed transfer scheme to the Secretary of State for approval.

Splitting Railtrack into geographical units is one of the options under consideration.

Mr McAllister, who is married with three sons and a daughter, was awarded the CBE in 1996.

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. QUEST: Ian McAllister