Arriva MD Burchell takes over as new RDG chairman
Chris Burchell is the new chairman of the Rail Delivery Group (RDG).
Arriva’s Managing Director for UK Trains takes up the role on January 1 2017, having been appointed at a meeting of RDG directors on November 29. He replaces Martin Griffiths, who chaired the RDG board for a planned threeyear term from December 2013. Griffiths remains chief executive of Stagecoach Group.
Burchell said: “The RDG exists to enable train companies and Network Rail to succeed in transforming and delivering the modern, successful railway that Britain needs and wants.
“The railways have delivered remarkable growth, with passenger numbers doubling over the last 20 years. But this growth has brought challenges as the railways have become more crowded and the limits of capacity that can be delivered from the existing network are increasingly being reached. At the same time, customer expectations continue to rise with demands for even better services, simplified ticketing and fares, and improved technology.”
Burchell began his railway career as Area Production Manager at Railtrack. Following a short period as Business Implementation Manager at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, he was appointed Director of Operations at Thames Trains. He was MD of Southern Railway from 2004 until 2014 before moving to Arriva. He was also chairman of the crossindustry National Task Force from 2010 until this year.
Griffiths said: “The success in building Europe’s leading and fastest-growing railway is helping fund the biggest investment in the network since the Victorian era. “But we will only deliver the railway our customers want, by all partners working together.
“Train companies, Network Rail, Government and other stakeholders each need to face up to tough choices in the parts of the system they control, and make the critical changes needed to give our customers a modern railway fit for the 21st century.”
Mark Carne, RDG Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of Network Rail, said: “The RDG is crucial to ensuring that the railway in Britain continues to improve for the ever-growing number of passengers and freight customers.”