Latest Rail News

25.09.15

Mike Brown steps up to Hendy’s former TfL commissioner role

Transport for London (TfL) has appointed Mike Brown as the capital’s new transport commissioner following an international recruitment process.

Brown, who has been an interim commissioner since July following Sir Peter Hendy’s appointment as boss of Network Rail, will take up the job effective immediately.

He will replace Hendy in his new role after the Network Rail boss was picked as chair when Richard Parry-Jones was pushed out of the job.

Brown has been TfL’s managing director of London Underground and Rail since 2010, overseeing performance on the Tube, DLR and London Overground as well as the modernisation of the network.

The news was confirmed during a TfL board meeting yesterday (24 September), after which Brown said: “It is vital that we continue to invest, deliver even greater efficiencies and develop our commercial revenue, to support more jobs, homes and ensure London remains the engine of the UK economy.

“As commissioner, my priorities will be the continuing modernisation of the capital’s transport networks, including the upgrade of the Tube, more fast, frequent, metro-style rail services, the delivery of Crossrail and Crossrail 2.

“I’m also determined that, in delivering our unprecedented £4bn road modernisation plan, we keep traffic flowing, the bus network reliable and keep all Londoners, businesses and road users informed so they can plan ahead and avoid disruption.”

He first joined LU in 1989, acting a s general manager of the Metropolitan line and, later on, its chief operating officer before leaving in 2008 to work in Heathrow Airport for BAA.

Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, was “delighted” to confirm Brown’s appointment and praised the improvements observed under his leadership at TfL, including “record numbers” of customers across different networks and fewer delays.

The new commissioner has already seen criticism in regards to his weighty salary, with London Assembly Green member Jenny Jones urging Johnson to reduce the role’s pay, according to the BBC.

Also during yesterday’s board meeting, TfL executives were set to decide on the extension of Alstom’s Northern Line contract, as well as discuss papers that showed Crossrail’s progress had slowed down as the project dipped below its budget.

(Top image c. TfL)

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

related

Rail industry Focus

View all News

Comment

The challenge of completing Crossrail

05/07/2019The challenge of completing Crossrail

With a new plan now in place to deliver Crossrail, Hedley Ayres, National Audit Office manager, major projects and programmes, takes a look at ho... more >
Preparing the industry to deliver trains for the future

04/07/2019Preparing the industry to deliver trains for the future

The move to decarbonise the rail network involves shifting to cleaner modes of traction by 2050. David Clarke, technical director at the Railway ... more >

'the sleepers' blog

On the right track, Sulzer is awarded RISAS accreditation for Nottingham Service Centre

29/06/2020On the right track, Sulzer is awarded RISAS accreditation for Nottingham Service Centre

Following an independent audit, Sulzer’s Nottingham Service Centre has been accepted as part of the rail industry supplier approval scheme (RISAS). The accreditation reinforces the high-quality standards that are maintained by Sulzer’s... more >
read more blog posts from 'the sleeper' >

Interviews

Andrew Haines, CE of Network Rail, tells BBC News his organisation could issue future rail franchises

24/06/2019Andrew Haines, CE of Network Rail, tells BBC News his organisation could issue future rail franchises

Andrew Haines, the Chief Executive of Network Rail, has told the Today programme on Radio 4's BBC’s flagship news programme that he would not rule out his organisation issuing future r... more >
Advancing the rail industry with management degree apprenticeships

08/05/2019Advancing the rail industry with management degree apprenticeships

In answering the pressing questions of how current and future generations of managers can provide solutions to high-profile infrastructure projects across the UK, Pearson Business School, part of... more >