Alex Hynes named as new CEO of DfT Operator

• new Chief Executive will join DFTO to lead pivotal phase as more train companies come into public ownership 
• appointment marks next chapter as government moves closer to establishment of Great British Railways 
• department thanks Robin Gisby for his work in making DFTO the home of publicly owned train operators

Alex Hynes has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Department for Transport Operator Limited (DFTO) to lead the next phase in the transition to Great British Railways. 

DFTO is the government body which is bringing all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership ahead of the creation of Great British Railways. 

With significant experience in both the rail industry and Department for Transport, his appointment will support the government's mission to bring together track and train – delivering a better service for passengers. 

Before joining the civil service, Alex held senior positions at both ScotRail and Network Rail Scotland between 2017 and 2024. This followed his extensive career as Managing Director of Northern before the operator transferred into public ownership in 2020, delivering their best ever customer satisfaction scores and record levels of employee engagement. 

The handover will take place on 23 December 2025 as current CEO Robin Gisby's fixed-term contract comes to an end.  

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: 

This government is making strides in our ambitious rail reforms and establishing Great British Railways, delivering a network which is run for the public, owned by the public.

Alex Hynes's appointment will build on the achievements so far of smoothly bringing operators into public ownership and I'm confident that will continue going forward.

I'd like to thank Robin Gisby for his work in effectively leading DFTOthrough challenging periods, all the way from the pandemic to the beginning of the transition to Great British Railways. Robin had a major impact on the rail industry and he leaves an enduring legacy recognised by colleagues and passengers.

To ensure DFTO has the necessary resources as it takes on more services, over 200 civil servants from DfT rail teams will transfer into DFTO by 1 April 2026.  The decision signals a commitment from government to prioritise the smooth functioning of operators in public ownership. 

To date, half of rail operators are in public ownership following Greater Anglia's service transfer in October 2025. DFTO, under Alex Hynes' leadership, will continue to play a crucial role managing future transitions. 

Alex Hynes, Director General of Rail Services at DfT, said:

It's a privilege to be joining DFTO at such a pivotal moment. I look forward to working with so many talented colleagues from across the publicly owned train operating companies, Network Rail, the Department for Transport and the wider rail industry. 

Building on DFTO's strong foundations and Robin's achievements, my focus will be on delivering safe, reliable and efficient services for passengers, and helping to drive rail reform.

Robin Gisby, outgoing DFTO Chief Executive, said:

The foundation of our railways are its people, and it has been a privilege to work with so many dedicated colleagues from across the industry. They work hard every day to deliver for passengers and ensure they can travel safely and reliably.

It is their commitment to placing passengers first that has put us on the path to building a better railway for all. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Alex in the next few weeks to ensure a smooth transition as we set DFTO up for further success.

Richard George, Chair of DFTO, said:

I am delighted to confirm the appointment of Alex Hynes as the new Chief Executive Officer of DFTO. His previous leadership of Scotland's Railway as the Managing Director – leading the ScotRail Alliance, a partnership between ScotRail Trains and Network Rail Scotland, make him uniquely positioned to lead DFTO through this next critical phase, as we complete the programme for public ownership and continue to improve our services for customers through greater collaboration with Network Rail and other parts of the industry.

The new appointment comes as legislation to establish Great British Railways is currently going through Parliament, marking the next phase of government's bold rail reforms. Great British Railways will build a simpler, more unified railway that delivers reliable, safe and more affordable journeys.