News Release

7 January 2010

ANGEL TRAINS APPOINTS SIR DAVID ROWLAND AS CHAIRMAN

Sir David Rowlands, chairman of HS2, the government-owned company behind plans for the UK’s second high-speed rail link, has been appointed non-executive chairman of leading rolling stock company Angel Trains.

 Sir David, permanent secretary at the Department for Transport from 2003 until his retirement from the civil service in 2007, becomes the first non-executive chairman of Angel Trains Group Limited since it was acquired by a consortium of infrastructure and pension funds from Royal Bank of Scotland in 2008.

 Angel Trains owns and maintains more than 4,400 passenger and freight rail vehicles in the UK, about 37% of the nation’s rolling stock.  

 Since 1996 it has invested £3 billion in both new trains and the refurbishment of existing trains, and is one of the largest single private investors in UK rail.  

Sir David, who will step down from HS2 in February, said: “It’s vital that we continue to modernise and improve the UK’s passenger train fleet, and the rolling stock companies have a key role to play in delivering the improvements.

 “I can help the team at Angel Trains further develop and continue to be at the forefront of investments.”

 Malcolm Brown, chief executive of Angel Trains, added: “David’s knowledge and experience of the UK rail industry is second to none, and I am looking forward to working with him.

 “The next few years will present many opportunities and some challenges for the company, and David’s advice and counsel will be immensely beneficial to the board.”

After four years in the private sector, and then nine years at the Department of Trade and Industry, Sir David moved to the then Department of Transport in 1983, where he held a number of posts across finance, aviation, shipping, ports and railways. Prior to becoming permanent secretary, he was director general for railways, aviation, logistics, maritime and security.

 During his time at the DfT he was involved in the creation of Network Rail and the delivery of public-private partnerships for both the London Underground and the National Air Traffic Services.

 Sir David was recently appointed as chairman of London Gatwick Airport following its divestiture from BAA.

 He is also a member of the Royal Automobile Club Foundation’s public policy committee, a governor of Anglia Ruskin University and deputy chairman of The Lifeboat Fund, a public service charity.

 Sir David lives in Essex and is married to Louise. They have two grown-up sons.

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