Network Rail has announced the appointment of Ellie Burrows as the new Managing Director for its Eastern region, effective today. Burrows, a seasoned rail industry professional with over two decades of experience, steps into the role with a proven track record of delivering improvements and fostering strong stakeholder relationships.
Burrows arrives from her previous position as Managing Director for Network Rail’s Southern region, where she oversaw one of Britain’s busiest rail networks, serving over a million passengers daily. Her tenure in the Southern region was marked by significant advancements in performance and safety, as well as crucial support for the introduction of the Elizabeth Line. Notably, her time as route director for Anglia saw her transform stakeholder relations, a key factor in the successful delivery of enhancement and change programmes.
In her new role, Burrows will collaborate with recently appointed Deputy Regional Managing Director Jamie Burles, providing executive leadership across the East Coast, North and East, East Midlands, and Anglia routes. She will play a pivotal role in delivering Network Rail’s control period commitments, focusing on sustainable improvements for both passengers and freight users across major cities including Leeds, Sheffield, Derby, Norwich, Cambridge, and London.
The Eastern region is poised for substantial infrastructure investment, with projects such as the Midland Main Line Upgrade and the East Coast Digital Programme set to create a more reliable, greener, and faster railway.
Burrows succeeds Jake Kelly, who returns to the North West & Central region as its new Regional Managing Director. Her extensive leadership experience spans various regions, operators, disciplines, and service types, including previous roles as Train Service Director and Deputy Managing Director at Southeastern, and Area Director for both Kent and Sussex routes.
Speaking about starting her new role, Ellie Burrows said: “I am delighted to be joining Network Rail’s Eastern region at such an important time for our railway. I look forward to working with colleagues and industry partners to deliver the safe, reliable service that our passengers and freight customers deserve.”
Beyond her operational roles, Burrows chairs the Chartered Institute of Railway Operators (CIRO) and the RSSB System Safety Risk Group, contributing to the delivery of the ‘Leading Health and Safety on Britain’s Railways’ strategy. She is also a strong advocate for developing people and skills within the rail industry.
