First Rail London has confirmed its new senior management team as it officially takes over operation of the London Overground network on behalf of Transport for London (TfL).
Leading the organisation as Managing Director is David Statham, who moves into the role from his current position as Commercial Director at First Rail. He will oversee the delivery of the concession and lead the team responsible for day‑to‑day operation of the capital’s orbital railway.
Joining him from within First Rail are Lee Archer, appointed People Director, Mike Fortune as Finance Director, and Oliver Owens as Concession and Transformation Director. Together, they form the core leadership team charged with embedding First Rail London’s operational approach from the outset of the concession.
A number of senior leaders will also transfer from the London Overground’s outgoing operator, Arriva Rail London, ensuring continuity across operations, engineering and customer experience. These include Niall Rooney as Customer Experience Director, Charlotte Whitfield as Operations Director, Kate Marjoribanks as Engineering Director, and Mark Hughes, who will take on the role of Head of Safety, Health & Wellbeing and Compliance.
The London Overground is one of the capital’s most heavily used rail networks, carrying around four million passengers each week and playing a critical role in London’s transport system.
Commenting on the start of operations, First Rail London Managing Director David Statham said:
“The London Overground has transformed the way people travel across the capital, now carrying around four million passengers each week. We’re really excited to be operating the network from this weekend on behalf of Transport for London (TfL). We will be focused on delivering a safe and reliable network for customers, colleagues and communities.”
The move further expands First Rail’s footprint in London, where the group already operates a range of transport services under contract to TfL.
First Rail Managing Director Steve Montgomery said:
“As a long-standing and reliable partner in public transport, we value our strong relationship with TfL, where we already operate tram, cable car and some bus services. This weekend marks a significant milestone as we broaden and strengthen our portfolio in the capital.”
First Rail London’s contract with TfL has an initial term of eight years, with the option for TfL to extend the agreement by up to two additional years at its discretion.
Under the concession model, TfL retains all revenue risk and continues to specify service levels, while First Rail London is responsible for the delivery of train services, station management and customer service across the network.
Image credits: First Rail
