The rail industry enters a defining period of transformation with the appointment of two highly respected leaders to key national roles, reinforcing the Government’s ambition to reunite track and train and place passengers at the heart of railway operations.
Richard George has been appointed Chair of Network Rail, the public body responsible for owning, operating, maintaining and developing Britain’s rail infrastructure. At the same time, Sir Andrew Haines will take up the role of Chair of Department for Transport Operator Limited (DFTO), the organisation overseeing the transfer of train services into public ownership ahead of the creation of Great British Railways.
Together, the appointments bring decades of frontline and executive rail experience to the organisations at the centre of reform, providing continuity, credibility and deep operational insight at a critical moment for the industry.
Experience at the helm
Richard George brings more than 45 years of senior leadership experience in UK transport, including extensive operational and strategic roles across the railway. Currently serving as Chair of DFTO, his career spans public and private rail, from British Rail through to the post‑privatisation era.
His previous roles include Managing Director of Great Western Trains and Project Director for HS1 for Eurostar. He has also served as an adviser to the Department for Transport on rail performance and investment in the north of England. Prior to privatisation, Richard spent two decades in railway management with British Rail, giving him a strong grounding in the integrated railway many in the industry now see returning under Great British Railways.
Sir Andrew Haines, meanwhile, brings unparalleled recent experience of leading the national rail network. He served as Chief Executive of Network Rail from 2018 to 2025, a period marked by sustained focus on passenger outcomes, safety and performance improvement across a complex and pressured system.
His earlier career includes senior leadership roles as Managing Director of South West Trains and Managing Director of the Rail Division at FirstGroup, giving him deep insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by train operators at every level.
Supporting reform while protecting performance
Both leaders are widely regarded within the industry as advocates of practical reform rooted in operational delivery. Their appointments are intended to support the Government’s mission to integrate infrastructure and operations while safeguarding the day‑to‑day reliability, safety and resilience of the railway.
Their new roles officially begin on Monday 2 February.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "With legislation now making its way through Parliament, we’re making good progress with our ambitious programme of rail reform. When Great British Railways is established, it will help us to deliver a network which is run for the public, owned by the public.
“Richard and Sir Andrew both bring a wealth of experience, helping to improve passenger experience and operational performance, supporting the integration of our railways and building towards the world-class railway we will see under Great British Railways.
“I’d like to thank Mike Putnam for his work overseeing Network Rail at this pivotal time. I’m pleased we will continue to benefit from his knowledge and skills as he remains part of the Network Rail board."**
Focus on collaboration across the industry
Sir Andrew emphasised the importance of partnership working across the publicly owned rail family as DFTO continues the process of bringing services into public ownership.
He said:
“I am delighted to be joining DFTO at this pivotal time, as it focuses on its mission of successfully bringing more services into public ownership, improving passenger experience and helping create Great British Railways.
“I look forward to working closely with so many talented colleagues from across the publicly owned train operating companies, Network Rail, the Department for Transport and the wider rail industry.”**
Richard George highlighted the scale of opportunity ahead, while underlining the non‑negotiable importance of safety and operational performance.
He said:
“I am delighted and honoured to be appointed Chair of Network Rail. The rail reform journey we are on towards the creation of Great British Railways is an exciting one with changes across all railway organisations including Network Rail as we work to create an integrated railway fit for the 21st century.
“But those changes must never be at the expense of safety and operational performance, and the whole system relies on Network Rail to deliver that. I am excited to be a part of this, leading Network Rail, alongside DFTO and the publicly-owned train operators to improve performance on the railway and drive rail reform."**
A pivotal moment for the railway
The appointments come as legislation to establish Great British Railways continues its passage through Parliament, marking the next major step in the Government’s rail reform programme. For staff across infrastructure, operations and support functions, the message is clear: experience, integration and operational discipline will be central to shaping a simpler, more unified railway delivering safer, more reliable and more affordable journeys for passengers.
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