UK: The Department for Transport has formally advertised the position of Chair of the future Great British Railways board, saying the ‘leadership challenge of national importance’ will require ‘a leader who thrives on complexity and transformation’ with ‘resilience, influence and the ability to inspire confidence in a complex and challenging stakeholder environment’.
The appointment would be for three years, with a commitment of 10 days per month, and remuneration of £200 000 to £300 000 per annum.
In an open message to potential applicants from both within and outside the rail sector on January 26, Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said ‘this is not just a job – it’s a once in a generation leadership opportunity to transform Britain’s railways into a world-class service that relentlessly puts passengers and customers first’.
Alexander said Great British Railways would be one of the government’s most significant public bodies, with £20bn of expenditure, more than 100 000 employees and one of the biggest retail operations in the UK, with annual ticketing turnover ‘at a scale that demands sharp commercial acumen and an unwavering focus on customer experience’.
The inaugural chair ‘will lead a bold mission to reimagine how rail serves the nation, driving transformational and cultural change and commercial excellence across one of the UK’s largest public bodies, whilst being responsible for the safety of the railway and everyone who interacts with it; staff, passengers and the public’.
The deadline for applications is midday on February 23 2026.
