Updated
10.38

Network
Rail


chief
executive
Andrew
Haines
is
to
retire
from
his
post
in
October.

Sir
Andrew,
who
was
knighted
in
this
year’s
New
Year
Honours,
and
whose
previous
experience
has
included
running
the
South
West
Trains
franchise
for
Stagecoach,
joined
Network
Rail
in
August
2018.

Since
2021,
he
has
also
been
responsible
for
managing
the
transition
to
Great
British
Railways,
which
began
with
the
publication
of
the
Williams-Shapps
report
following
the
Williams
Rail
Review.

Network
Rail
itself,
which
had
been
created
to
take
over
from
Railtrack
in
2002,
is
set
to
be
succeeded
by
the
new
‘directing
mind’
of
Great
British
Railways
when
the
necessary
legislation
has
been
passed.

Until
last
summer
Sir
Andrew
had
worked
with
Lord
Hendy,
who
had
been
Network
Rail
chairman
but
became
rail
minister
after
the
Labour
government
had
been
elected
in
July.

Network
Rail’s
acting
chair
Mike
Putnam
said:
‘Andrew
has
been
an
exceptional
leader
for
Network
Rail
at
a
critical
time
in
the
history
of
Britain’s
railways.
He
has
secured
reforms
that
will
lead
to
a
more
reliable
railway,
while
maintaining
a
continual
focus
on
safety
and
performance.

‘His
vision,
leadership
and
ambition
for
an
integrated,
simpler
railway
that
will
deliver
a
significantly
better
experience
for
passengers
has
been
at
the
heart
of
the
creation
of
Great
British
Railways.

‘I’d
like
to
thank
Andrew
for
his
unwavering
dedication
and
leadership
of
Network
Rail
over
the
last
seven
years.’

Transport
secretary
Heidi
Alexander
added:
‘I’d
like
to
thank
Andrew
for
the
commitment
and
leadership
he’s
shown
over
the
past
seven
years.
He
provided
stability
during
the
most
challenging
of
periods
and
ensured
the
railway
kept
running
throughout
the
pandemic
and
through
national
industrial
action.

‘His
vision
and
support
has
been
vital
as
we
establish
Great
British
Railways
–
one
of
this
government’s
biggest
reforms.
His
work
has
been
a
key
part
of
our
efforts
to
deliver
a
simpler,
more
efficient
railway,
with
passengers
at
its
heart.’

Sir
Andrew
said:
‘It
has
been
a
privilege
to
lead
Network
Rail
through
a
time
of
such
change
and
transformation
for
Britain’s
railways,
and
I
am
proud
of
the
progress
that
we
have
made
on
performance,
safety,
reliability
and
customer
service.

‘After
seven
years
as
chief
executive,
as
Great
British
Railways
starts
to
progress
through
legislation
and
into
implementation,
I
have
decided
it
is
the
right
time
for
me
to
retire.

‘I
am
a
passionate
supporter
of
the
principles
behind
Great
British
Railways
and
the
once-in-a-generation
opportunity
it
presents
to
create
an
integrated
railway
that
delivers
a
better
service
and
experience
for
passengers,
stakeholders
and
colleagues.
It
has
been
a
privilege
to
lead
this
transformational
journey
to
date.’

Campaign
for
Better
Transport
chief
executive
Ben
Plowden
said:
‘Sir
Andrew
has
been
a
passionate
advocate
of
the
railways,
and
has
helped
create
the
framework
for
the
generational
change,
Great
British
Railways,
that
passengers
and
the
industry
need.
We
thank
Sir
Andrew
for
his
service
and
wish
him
well.’

Network
Rail
said
the
process
of
choosing
his
successor
will
begin
shortly.

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