Iain, who took over the reigns of the company which operates the country’s rail infrastructure two years ago, was a pupil at Harrogate’s Ashville College and, on Friday, July 3, he will be the guest of honour and main speaker at its annual Speech Day.

Ashville College headmaster Andrew Fleck said: “We are especially keen to have Old Ashvillian‘s address the pupils, parents and teachers at Speech Day and this year we are delighted to have Iain with us.

“Most young boys dream of getting a train set for Christmas. It’s fair to say Iain has the country’s biggest train set at his finger tips. Ashville College is extremely proud to acknowledge Iain, who is without question one of the country’s leading business figures, as one of its old pupils.”

Mr Fleck added: “Iain’s duties on the night will be to present the prizes to the winners and also give a talk on his career to date”

Previously managing director and deputy chief executive of Network Rail, Mr Coucher, who studied engineering at London’s Imperial College after leaving Ashville College in 1979, took over as Chief Executive in the summer of 2007.