Southern Rail chief ready to depart – replacement boss coming soon

The managing director of Southern, the main train operator serving Brighton and Hove, is to leave in the coming months.

Chris Burchell is moving to rival operator Arriva where he will be the managing director of the UK Trains division.

His departure comes as Southern waits to find out whether it will be awarded the new combined franchise known as the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise.

The Department for Transport is expected to make an announcement soon.

David Brown, chief executive of Go-Ahead, which owns 65 per cent of Southern, said: “Chris has made a fantastic contribution to Southern and under his leadership Southern has been transformed.

Chris Burchell

“We are sorry to see him leave and wish him the best in his career.

“We are now focusing on the future of Southern as we eagerly await the outcome of the TSGN franchise competition.”

Mr Burchell said: “The decision to leave has not been an easy one.

“Southern has been and will remain a big part of my life and I’m very proud of what we have been able to achieve over the last ten years.

“I have no doubt Southern will continue to go from strength to strength and continue to improve services for customers.”

The company said: “Over the past decade, and under his leadership, the Southern train operating company has been transformed with better quality of service for customers, improved employee engagement, new trains and enhanced station facilities.

“Southern has pioneered innovation in many areas and recently was the first UK national rail company to integrate smartcards on its network with the London system.”

Mr Burchell will continue as Southern’s MD for the coming months and Go-Ahead said that it had already started the process of recruiting his successor.