Great British Railways first chairman announced

The first Chairman of Great British Railways has been announced by the Department for Transport with Sir John Kingman appointed.

Kingman was formerly Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury and has also been chair of Barclays UK as well as Legal & General Group PLC from 2016 to 2026.

Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said:

“Sir John Kingman’s appointment marks a defining moment in our mission to put passengers first and rebuild Britain’s railways.

“His exceptional record across government and industry makes him precisely the leader we need to steer Great British Railways through this landmark transformation.

“I look forward to working with him as we deliver a more reliable railway that this country can be proud of.”

This article gives a glimpse into his thinking on wider matters.

The majority of train operating companies across the UK are now in public hands, with the process starting under the last Conservative government and continuing with the current Labour administration.

While the government have been keen to pump out positive PR, they’ve also implemented service cuts including on Thameslink days after taking control. More cuts are on the way later this month.