Sir John Kingman named first Chair of Great British Railways

The Department for Transport appointed Sir John Kingman as the first Chair of Great British Railways on October 16, 2026. Kingman took on the role immediately while the Railways Bill continues its passage through Parliament.

In his new position, Kingman will oversee the design of the organisation and the ongoing integration of train and track operations as the rail network moves under public ownership. Once fully established, Great British Railways is set to become the third largest public sector organisation in Britain.

Kingman will work alongside devolved transport bodies and the wider rail industry to drive transition readiness and focus on passenger services. The Department for Transport said the creation of the publicly owned body is intended to run rail services in the interest of passengers and customers rather than private shareholders.

Government and Private Sector Experience

Kingman brings experience from senior leadership roles in both government and corporate sectors. He previously served as Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury, where he played a central role in the UK government's response to the financial crisis, including the nationalisation of Northern Rock, and negotiated Greater Manchester's devolution deal.

He later became the first Chair of UK Research and Innovation, where he oversaw £8 billion in annual science funding. In the private sector, Kingman has served as Chair of Barclays UK PLC, Chair of Legal & General Group PLC, and Chair of Tesco Personal Finance.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander praised the appointment in an official statement. "Sir John Kingman’s appointment marks a defining moment in our mission to put passengers first and rebuild Britain’s railways," Alexander said.

The appointment follows the announcement earlier in the week that Great British Railways will locate its headquarters at Becketwell in Derby. The Department for Transport said the headquarters will bring hundreds of rail jobs to the city and deliver an estimated £151 million boost to the regional economy.