Leggett joins after spells with Getabed, Great Rail Journeys and JTA, and will be aiming to help the operator capitalise on an expected spike in demand for rail breaks.

She brings more than 30 years’ travel industry experience to the role, and joins UK Rail Breaks after meeting owner David Glover at a conference.

"The thing that struck me was her passion for the product she was selling and the enthusiasm that she had," said Glover.

"Amanda is the perfect fit for UK Rail Breaks and her vast knowledge and connections within the industry will hopefully help make UK Rail Breaks the first choice for agents when booking city or theatre breaks by rail."

Glover said the aim of the newly created role was to "build up" the operator’s trade sales after signing commercial agreements with a number of high street and homeworking agencies.

"I brought in Amanda to help me build our relationships [with the trade] and raise awareness of our product with these companies," said Glover, who is expecting a rail break boom as the UK emerges from the Covid crisis.

"Post-Covid, we’re expecting really strong demand for UK rail breaks from both residents of the UK, and then once the world finally reopens, an influx of visitors from abroad," he said.

Newcastle-based UK Rail Breaks offers trips across England, Wales and Scotland, including travel to London, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness, as well as theatre breaks and other rail getaways.

All breaks are financially protected and the operator also offers price parity between direct and trade sales.