UKRL, the leading independent provider of vehicle overhaul, maintenance, and engineering services to the UK rail industry, has appointed highly respected industry leader Andrew Chivers as Chair.
A chartered engineer with over 40 years of leadership experience in rail operations, engineering, and asset management, Chivers brings a wealth of strategic expertise to the East Midlands-based organisation as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
Chivers has held senior executive roles across the sector, including Director of the Rail Division at National Express Group, where he oversaw operations across the UK and Germany, and Managing Director at major train operating companies including Greater Anglia, c2c, Silverlink, WAGN, and Wessex Trains.
In addition to his executive background, Andrew brings extensive non-executive experience across rolling stock asset ownership, managing multi-billion-pound fleet portfolios as a Non-Executive Director for Rock Rail and Agility Trains East, as well as prior sector leadership roles as Chair of National Rail Enquiries and GoSkills.
In his new role as Chair, Andrew will guide UKRL’s strategic direction, governance, and commercial expansion, strengthening its support for freight operators, passenger train operating companies (TOCs), and spot-hire rolling stock markets across the UK rail network.
Andrew Chivers, incoming Chair of UKRL, commented:
“UKRL has built a strong reputation as an agile, highly capable partner in railway vehicle maintenance and engineering services. With ongoing changes across the rail landscape, there is very significant opportunity for independent, responsive businesses like UKRL to provide essential fleet support and innovative maintenance solutions. I look forward to working closely with Steve, the board, and the team to support the company’s strategic ambitions.”
Steve McBride, Managing Director at UKRL, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Andrew as Chair of UKRL. His track record across our sector is second to none. Having led major transformational programmes across the UK and European rail markets, Andrew’s strategic vision and deep engineering roots will be invaluable as we continue to expand our depot services in Leicester, Loughborough, and on our customers’ premises.”
Image credit: UKRL
