Greater Anglia’s new managing director Martin Beable could be the last boss to run the company as a private entity

New Greater Anglia boss Martin Beable (credit GA)

A rail firm running services through Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest has appointed a new boss – who could be the last to run the company before it gets nationalised.

Martin Beable will join Greater Anglia as its new managing director on Monday (7th). He is returning to the firm from its owner, Transport UK, having previously spent nearly five years as Greater Anglia’s engineering director, when he helped to oversee the full fleet replacement programme.

Greater Anglia, which runs the West Anglia Main Line through eastern Enfield and Haringey as well as the Temple Mills branch line to Stratford via Lea Bridge, is predicted to be one of the first rail franchises to become nationalised as part of the new Labour government’s commitment to take over the running of firms as soon as their operating contracts come up for renewal.

The timetable for rail nationalisation is likely to be announced before the end of this year, with Greater Anglia expected to come into public ownership in either 2025 or early 2026.

Greater Anglia was named ‘Passenger Operator of the Year’ at the National Rail awards for the second time in three years last month, after becoming the most punctual operator in the UK last year with an annual punctuality performance of 94.3%.

Commenting on his return to Greater Anglia, Martin Beable said: “I am delighted to be returning to Greater Anglia as its new managing director. With new trains right across our network and industry-leading punctuality, we are well placed to keep on improving rail services for customers and communities throughout our region.

“Everyone at GA is committed to delivering the best possible service, day in, day out, and I am passionate about the role the railway plays in ensuring East Anglia is a successful and sustainable place to live and work.”

Martin succeeds Jamie Burles, who spent a decade leading Greater Anglia but is now leaving for a new role at Network Rail’s eastern region. Jamie said: “I am proud to have been part of a great team at Greater Anglia which has delivered a transformation in train services in our region over the past decade. We made a commitment to a positive step change in service quality, with new trains and better performance, and we have fulfilled that pledge.

“I am sure Martin Beable will maintain that cycle of continuous improvement, to provide even better services for passengers.

“I’d like to thank everyone at Greater Anglia and all the partners and stakeholders who I’ve worked with, who have helped us make GA a top performing train company”.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.