Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has confirmed that Mike Brown will be taking over as HS2 Ltd Chair, working alongside CEO Mark Wild to deliver a programme reset, including reviewing the costs and schedule, renegotiating HS2’s large construction contracts, and reviewing HS2 Ltd’s skills and structure.
The Transport Secretary has asked Mark Wild to be ready to provide an update on revised costs and delivery timescales at the end of the year.
Mike brings decades of experience to the role, having previously delivered major projects such as the successful delivery of London Underground and mainline rail for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, and a multi-billion pound investment programme on London’s roads, rail and cycling network.
The Transport Secretary said: “Mark Wild and Mike Brown were part of the team, with me, that turned Crossrail into the Elizabeth Line – we have done it before, we will do it again.
“Passengers and taxpayers deserve new railways the country can be proud of and the work to get HS2 back on track is firmly underway.”
Mike, has served as chair of RSSB for the past three years. During this time he was been instrumental in driving the organisation’s commitment to safety, sustainability, innovation, and industry collaboration. His dedication and strategic vision were invaluable in delivering enhanced services and value to RSSB’s members.
Mark Phillips, CEO of RSSB, said: “I have been very fortunate to work with Mike at RSSB for the past three years. He has been a model chair, generous with his time, driving us to provide ever better services and value to our members. I wish Mike and Mark Wild every success in making HS2 a project Britain can be proud of.”
The news came on the day that the Transport Secretary announced that she will accept all recommendations from the landmark James Stewart Review to address years of mismanagement and restore public trust in HS2.
First commissioned by the Government in October last year, the report sets out evidence of the historic mishandling of HS2 including a lack of ministerial oversight and scrutiny, inadequate control of the project by HS2 Ltd and a lack of effective incentives with the supply chain, which will collectively cost the taxpayer billions more than planned.
Commenting on the Government’s HS2 update, Railway Industry Association (RIA) Chief Executive Darren Caplan said: “The Railway Industry Association welcomes today’s clarification from the Government on HS2. It is now essential that HS2 Ltd’s CEO Mark Wild is given the time and space he and his team needs to carry out a ‘reset’ of the programme to deliver this project, so crucial to increasing UK rail capacity to the benefit of towns, cities, communities and the country’s economic needs for decades to come.
“RIA agrees it is important following the announcement that the lessons of the past are learnt, when it comes to avoiding the temptation to specify dates and costs prematurely on major infrastructure projects. And we support the appointment of Mike Brown CBE as HS2 Ltd’s Chair. Mike Brown has been involved at the highest levels with rail related infrastructure in the past, and we wish him well in this new role.”
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