Martijn Gilbert: Head of FirstGroup's open access businesses to leave rail operator

Martijn Gilbert is leaving FirstGroup after more than two-and-a-half years at the operator.

Gilbert has been First Rail Managing Director, Open Access, Tram and Cable since September 2022, during which the company has launched ambition open access plans.

Having acquired the approved proposals for services from London Euston-Stirling and London Paddington-Carmarthen from Grand Union (due to start in spring 2026 and December 2027) respectively, FirstGroup has also submitted a string of other requests.

These include Euston-Rochdale, London King’s Cross-Sheffield, Paddington-Paignton and, most recently, Paddington-Hereford.

RAIL understands that Gilbert is leaving to pursue other opportunities within the transport industry but has not officially left yet.

Steve Montgomery, Managing Director of First Rail, said: “After nearly three years as the Managing Director of our open access rail businesses, Tram Operations Limited and London Cableway, Martijn Gilbert has decided to pursue another leadership opportunity and will step away from his position with immediate effect.

"Martijn has led the team successfully in this period; achieving significant results and we wish Martijn well for the future.

“Stuart Jones, Commercial Director Open Access, will take on the remit of Managing Director of our Open Access businesses. Stuart has been instrumental in driving our open access strategy forward and will now focus on achieving that growth whilst driving performance excellence.

"Fran Barrett, Business Assurance Director First Rail, will additionally take on the leadership of Tram Operations Limited and London Cableway on an interim basis.”

Gilbert joined the operator from bus operator Go North East and East Yorkshire (part of the Go-Ahead Group), where he was Managing Director for just over four years.

Prior to that he was Chief Executive of Reading Buses between November 2014 and August 2018.

While most of his pre-FirstGroup career has been in the bus industry, he played a leading role in Arriva’s UK Trains Divisional Operations from April 2008-August 2013.

The news comes a day after FirstGroup announced an increased operating profit for the financial year 2025 of £222.8 million, up from £204.3m the year before.

First Rail profits rose £5.5m to £148.8m with open access providing an adjusted operating profit of £34.1m, up from £30m.

Customers made 2.9 million open access journeys in the financial year 2025, an increase of 200,000.