New chairs appointed to lead key UK rail bodies ahead of reforms

The Department for Transport has appointed new chairs to two major organisations central to the UK rail network as the sector moves closer to structural reform.

image: Network Rail

Richard George will become Chair of Network Rail, the body responsible for owning, operating and maintaining Britain’s railway infrastructure. Sir Andrew Haines will take up the role of Chair at Department for Transport Operator Limited (DFTO), the publicly-owned company responsible for train services brought into government control ahead of the planned creation of Great British Railways (GBR). Both appointments take effect on 2 February 2026.

George, with 45 years of experience in the UK transport sector, previously served as Chair of DFTO and held senior roles including Managing Director of Great Western Trains and HS1 Project Director for Eurostar. Sir Andrew, who was Chief Executive of Network Rail from 2018 to 2025, has a long career in rail leadership, including senior positions with South West Trains and FirstGroup.

In announcing the appointments, the Department for Transport said the new chairs will work to improve passenger experience and operational performance as legislation to establish GBR progresses through Parliament. The reform aims to integrate track and train operations under a unified structure.

Sir Andrew Haines said he was “delighted” to take up the DFTO role at a pivotal time, focusing on bringing services into public ownership and supporting the transition to GBR. Richard George highlighted the importance of safety and performance for Network Rail as part of ongoing industry reform.

The appointments follow a period of change within the rail sector, including the transfer of several train operators into public ownership and ongoing legislative work to establish GBR as the overseeing body for Britain’s railways.