UK: Alex Hynes has been named as the next Chief Executive of Department for Transport Operator Ltd, the state-owned holding company for DfT contracted passenger train operators which have passed into the public sector.
DfT has also announced that more than 200 civil servants from the rail teams will transfer into DFTO by April 1 2026, to ensure it has the necessary resources as more services are handed over from the private sector.
Hynes was Managing Director of Northern in 2013-17, and held senior positions at ScotRail and Network Rail Scotland in 2017-24, leading the ScotRail Alliance between the operator and infrastructure manager. In 2018 he was named Industry Leader of the Year at the 20th Rail Business Awards.
Hynes has been Director General for Rail Services at DfT since April 2024, and will become DFTO CEO on December 23 when current CEO Robin Gisby’s fixed-term contract comes to an end.
‘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’, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said on November 27.
‘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.’
- The government is to run an open competition to appoint the future Great British Railways Chief Executive during 2026, in the expectation that GBR will be created in 2027.
