Rail leaders honoured in New Year's Honours List

Network Rail Chief Executive, Andrew Haines, has been awarded a Knighthood in the King's New Year Honours list.

Haines, whose railway career began with a holiday job at Victoria Station's left luggage office, has emerged as a leading figure in the UK transport sector.

Since joining Network Rail in 2018, Haines has guided the organisation through a period of unprecedented challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic. However, he has also faced criticism during his time at Network Rail as performance on the rail network has struggled with project delays, strikes and operator service levels. Four operators have been moved into public ownership since 2018.

Before his tenure at Network Rail, Haines was the head of the Civil Aviation Authority, where he played a crucial role in navigating the aviation industry through the 2010 Icelandic volcanic eruption and successfully led the repatriation of British citizens following the collapse of Monarch Airlines. Prior to his role at the CAA, headed up South West Trains.

Haines said: “I am incredibly honoured to receive this award.  It’s not every day a boy from a comprehensive school in Merthyr Tydfil, or indeed anyone from the railway is recognised in this way, so it is immensely humbling. It’s a tribute to the work of the many thousands of people in the rail sector.”

The head GB Railfreight (GBRf) John Smith has also been honoured with an OBE in the King's New Year Honours List for his contributions to the rail freight industry.

Smith, whose career in the railway spans over four decades, has been instrumental in the growth of GBRf since its inception in 1999. He is a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

On hearing of his award, Smith said: “I am hugely surprised, honoured and thrilled to be recognised in the New Year Honours. It’s something I could never have considered when I began my career on the railway. This award is a recognition of the efforts of everyone who has worked at GB Railfreight over the last 25 years to whom I am hugely grateful.”

Southeastern's mental health lead was also recognised. Lee Wollcott-Ellis will received a British Empire Medal for services to Mental Health in Transport after working with the Rail Safety and Standards Board to introduce a framework to help rail companies promote, manage and support mental wellbeing.

More than 130 companies have signed up since 2021.

“I was at work when the letter about the honour arrived, and I was totally surprised when I opened it. It’s a privilege to have been recognised by the industry that I care so much about and that’s been an important part of my life for many years," he said.

“I am genuinely honoured, and profoundly grateful to be acknowledged in this way. This recognition means a great deal to me, and it truly warms my heart to know that my efforts have been appreciated.”