Alex Hynes has been confirmed as the new Chief Executive of Department for Transport Operator Limited (DFTO), taking the helm as the organisation drives forward the transition to Great British Railways.
DFTO, the Government-owned body responsible for bringing train operators into public ownership, is central to the rail reform programme aimed at unifying track and train under one structure. Hynes’s appointment signals continuity and ambition at a pivotal moment for the industry.
With a wealth of experience across both the rail sector and the Department for Transport, Hynes is expected to play a key role in delivering improved services for passengers. His career includes senior leadership roles at ScotRail and Network Rail Scotland between 2017 and 2024, following his tenure as Managing Director of Northern, where he oversaw record customer satisfaction and employee engagement before the operator moved into public ownership in 2020.
The leadership handover will take place on 23 December, as outgoing CEO Robin Gisby concludes his fixed-term contract.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:
“This Government is making strides in our ambitious rail reforms and establishing Great British Railways, delivering a network which is run for the public, owned by the public.
Alex Hynes’s appointment will build on the achievements so far of smoothly bringing operators into public ownership and I’m confident that will continue going forward.
I’d like to thank Robin Gisby for his work in effectively leading DFTO through challenging periods, all the way from the pandemic to the beginning of the transition to Great British Railways. Robin had a major impact on the rail industry and he leaves an enduring legacy recognised by colleagues and passengers.”
To ensure DFTO has the resources needed as it takes on more services, over 200 civil servants from DfT rail teams will transfer into DFTO by 1 April 2026. This move underlines the Government’s commitment to maintaining operational stability during the transition.
Currently, half of Britain’s rail operators are in public ownership, following Greater Anglia’s transfer in October. Under Hynes’s leadership, DFTO will continue to manage future transitions and maintain service reliability.
Alex Hynes, currently Director General of Rail Services at DfT, said:
“It’s a privilege to be joining DFTO at such a pivotal moment. I look forward to working with so many talented colleagues from across the publicly owned train operating companies, Network Rail, the Department for Transport and the wider rail industry."
"Building on DFTO’s strong foundations and Robin’s achievements, my focus will be on delivering safe, reliable and efficient services for passengers, and helping to drive rail reform.”
Outgoing CEO Robin Gisby reflected on his tenure:
“The foundation of our railways are its people, and it has been a privilege to work with so many dedicated colleagues from across the industry. They work hard every day to deliver for passengers and ensure they can travel safely and reliably.
It is their commitment to placing passengers first that has put us on the path to building a better railway for all. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Alex in the next few weeks to ensure a smooth transition as we set DFTO up for further success.”
Richard George, Chair of DFTO, added:
“I am delighted to confirm the appointment of Alex Hynes as the new Chief Executive Officer of DFTO. His previous leadership of Scotland’s Railway as the Managing Director - leading the ScotRail Alliance, a partnership between ScotRail Trains and Network Rail Scotland, make him uniquely positioned to lead DFTO through this next critical phase, as we complete the programme for public ownership and continue to improve our services for customers through greater collaboration with Network Rail and other parts of the industry.”
The appointment comes as legislation to establish Great British Railways progresses through Parliament. This landmark reform aims to create a simpler, more unified railway that delivers reliable, safe, and affordable journeys for passengers.
Image credit: Network Rail
