Former Virgin Australia boss Paul Scurrah is expected to weigh into the debate over the future of coal after starting his new job running rail freight group Pacific National.

Mr Scurrah, who takes the helm of Pacific National on Monday, after leaving Virgin in November following its takeover by Bain Capital, is expected to bring a more balanced discussion around the role coal should play in Australia amid concerns that coal exports could be hurt as debate rages over how the nation should shift to renewable energy.