UK: Arriva UK Trains has appointed Richard Allan as the next Managing Director of Chiltern Railways. Formerly People & Strategy Director and Deputy Managing Director at Arriva Rail North and subsequently the OLR-led Northern Trains Ltd, he is expected to join Chiltern in early October.
He succeeds Mary Hewitt, who has been acting as Interim Managing Director at Chiltern since the beginning of 2020, when Dave Penney moved to Network Rail’s North West & Central Region as Route Director, Central.
Hewitt will return to her role as Strategy & Policy Director at Arriva UK Trains on a part-time basis. She has also been seconded to Network Rail on behalf of the Rail Delivery Group members, to lead industry engagement in shaping a new 30-year Whole Industry Strategic Plan.
Managing Director of Arriva UK Trains Chris Burchell said ‘we are delighted to welcome Richard back to the Arriva family. This is a crucial time for Chiltern Railways and the rail industry, with an urgent need to deliver accelerated change. I’m confident that Richard will be able to build on Chiltern’s strong track record of punctuality, reliability and customer service and shape the future evolution of the network.’
Thanking Hewitt for her nine-month stint at Chiltern, Burchell said she had ‘led the business with great skill through the all-encompassing operational and contractual challenges that have been encountered’, adding that her leadership had been ‘warmly appreciated by everyone at Chiltern Railways’.
