The Transport Secretary has named Laura Shoaf as the Chair of Shadow Great British Railways (SGBR). In this role, Laura will spearhead the government’s efforts to revamp the railways, uniting senior leaders to enhance passenger experiences and work towards a more cohesive rail system. SGBR will also play a crucial role in shaping Great British Railways, the future permanent body responsible for overseeing railway infrastructure and services.
Laura brings a wealth of experience to the position. Prior to leading the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), she served as the managing director of Transport for West Midlands, where she managed a significant transport investment package for the region. Notably, she was the first woman to chair the Urban Transport Group, which includes transport leaders from across the UK, and played a pivotal role in the industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recognised as an expert in her field, Laura has advised on national policy and was one of the UK’s first ‘transport champions for tackling violence against women and girls’. Her extensive experience will be instrumental in making the rail network more accessible and safer for all passengers.
As legislation is being prepared, SGBR will lay the foundation for this new system, ensuring that improvements for passengers and freight are delivered without delay.
Laura Shoaf, said:
“The arrival of the railways fundamentally changed the United Kingdom – creating huge growth, new connections between communities and opening up the opportunity of jobs and adventure to people across the whole of the country”.
SGBR brings together the leaders of Network Rail, DfT’s Operator of Last Resort and DfT’s Rail Services Group, laying the tracks for a properly integrated, customer-focused national rail network.
It will also work closely with industry partners to deliver better services for passengers and tackle the financial challenges facing our railways.
As Chair, Laura will be tasked with ensuring SGBR’s leadership drives forward plans for improvement and challenging industry to deliver, while ensuring the interests of passengers, freight users and taxpayers remain at the forefront of everything SGBR does.
Image credit: West Midlands Combined Authority
