Transport for the North’s Chairman, John Cridland is to retire as Chairman this summer, the organisation has announced.
He will remain in the independent post for the coming months until TfN’s annual meeting in July. Mr Cridland has been Chairman of the North’s sub-national transport body for nearly six years, chairing the partnership of northern civic and business leaders.
During this time Transport for the North has acted as one voice for the North of England; achieved statutory status; launched a 30-year Strategic Transport Plan for the region; and progressed the business case for Northern Powerhouse Rail, a transformational programme of new and upgraded railways spanning the North. Now, a process to appoint a successor will now begin.
Tim Wood, Acting Chief Executive at Transport for the North said: “I’d like to thank John for his commitment to both Transport for the North and our shared mission to secure sustained investment to create a more prosperous, sustainable and inclusive North of England.
“During his time as Chairman, the partnership at the heart of TfN has gone from strength to strength, speaking with one voice for the North of England and, for the first time, setting out a transport blueprint for the whole region. John has provided consistent leadership during some extremely challenging years in the North. We thank him and wish him all the very best for the future.”
Cllr Louise Gittins, Vice Chair of Transport for the North, said: “Transport for the North’s mission is more important than ever as we seek to level-up investment and make the North a better place to live and work.
“On behalf of the TfN partnership, a sincere thank you to John. He has worked closely to ensure our work has been a true partnership endeavour, fostering collaboration between the North’s political and business leaders. We will continue in the same spirit that John has always championed and send our best wishes for his next challenge.”
Mayor Ben Houchen, Vice Chair of Transport for the North, said: “John has chaired our partnership to great effect over the years, acting as a respected figurehead for our shared goal and bringing voices together for the first time.
“He has been extremely successful in establishing Transport for the North as a statutory, influential force for good in the North. A personal and collective thank you and warm wishes for the future to John.”
Mr Cridland said: “Transport for the North has achieved a great deal over the last six years. We have a built a new organisation and produced an economic review of the North which then informed our transformational 30-year Strategic Transport Plan.
“We’ve negotiated and established a statutory body and produced a Business Plan for our Northern Powerhouse Railway. We are now on the cusp of getting the investment we need on our railways and, for example, on the A66. We have done this by creating a vision for the North, by the North.
“I’d like to thank the North’s civic and business leaders who have collectively and successfully advanced this important agenda, as well as the hard-working team at TfN who have made it all possible.”
