Tony Berkeley to retire as chairman of Rail Freight Group

One of the biggest names in the rail freight industry, Rail Freight Group (RFG) chairman Tony Berkeley (pictured), is to retire at its AGM in November.

The RFG board met last week and the directors are now “considering the role going forward and the basis of the appointment of a replacement for Tony”.

The group said 78-year-old Lord Berkeley, a Labour parliamentarian in the House of Lords, will continue to represent RFG as a board member of the European Rail Freight Association and ALLRAIL in Brussels, until his successor is in place.

He said: “It has been a privilege to have worked for RFG and its members in the rail freight sector for some 20 years, but at a time when RFG, under Maggie Simpson’s leadership, is in the best possible state to take on the challenges facing the industry, it is time for me to stand aside and ensure a smooth transition with a new chair,” he said.

Meanwhile, RFG executive director Maggie Simpson will continue to lead RFG’s work in representing the interests of the rail freight sector to UK government, Network Rail, the Office of Rail and Road and others in the industry.