Martijn Gilbert leaves FirstGroup with immediate effect

[Bletchleyite]

I can't quote much on this because the article is behind a paywall, but it appears Martijn Gilbert has left FirstGroup with immediate effect to take "another position in the rail industry":

https://x.com/RAIL/status/1932523330978168987

Martijn Gilbert: Head of FirstGroup's open access businesses to leave rail operator

I've also found this less positive sounding Yahoo article:

Boss of company that owns strike-hit Hull Trains to step down

Martijn Gilbert will step away from his position with immediate effect.

uk.finance.yahoo.com

The managing director of the company that owns strike-hit Hull Trains is to step down, it was revealed tonight.

Martijn Gilbert will step away from his position with immediate effect.

Members of Aslef have staged a series of strikes for months over the sacking of a colleague for a safety issue.

Steve Montgomery, First Rail managing director, said: “After nearly three years as the managing director of our open access rail businesses, Tram Operations Limited and London Cableway, Martijn Gilbert has decided to pursue another leadership opportunity and will step away from his position with immediate effect.


“Martijn has led the team successfully in this period, achieving significant results and we wish Martijn well for the future.

“Stuart Jones, commercial director open access, will take on the remit of managing director of our open access businesses.

“Stuart has been instrumental in driving our open access strategy forward and will now focus on achieving that growth whilst driving performance excellence.

“Fran Barrett, business assurance director First Rail, will additionally take on the leadership of Tram Operations Limited and London Cableway on an interim basis.”

Aslef has been critical of Mr Gilbert’s role in the dispute.

The union says the driver was unfairly sacked for raising a safety issue, which the company denies.

 

[Djgr]

Certainly his continual open access tirades feel very last century.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Clearly he’s leaving First in a similar position to how he left the Go North East bus company. I’m sure he’ll fail upwards.

 

[Goldfish62]

Clearly he’s leaving First in a similar position to how he left the Go North East bus company. I’m sure he’ll fail upwards.

And Reading Buses, and etc etc...

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

Was he actually unsuccessful / failed at managing the bus companies? What about his time as Lumo/Hull director?

Other than the HT strike, which had very little customer impact, those two operators seem to be fairly successful, and expanding. Pretty decent reviews from a cursory glance too.

 

[styles]

I think there's a view from some bus enthusiasts that he laid the groundwork for services being cut, staffing problems, and odd decisions which sounded fancy but didn't lead to bums on seats. So it may appear that he left on a high, but as we know this can also be quitting while you're ahead.

I don't really know much about him, or buses, to say if that's a widespread view, or accurate.

Hull and Lumo are certainly commercially very successful and planning expansion with the Stirling services. Hull gets very high satisfaction ratings and punctuality. Lumo seems to get more complaints than other operators in some areas, but when I tried to dig into the Transport Focus data on complaint categories, they mainly seemed to be related to comfort (Lumo are finally replacing their aged seats), and quality of service (but a bit like RyanAir, this is what you get with a budget service and may not be completely preventable?)

 

[Bletchleyite]

Pretty decent reviews from a cursory glance too.

I'd not agree with that on Lumo, the reviews are overridingly bad, but most of it is just about the same sort of thing that (as @styles says) is widely thrown at budget airlines, such as inconsistent* luggage enforcement.

* I don't think people mind strict when it's cheap, but they do mind when they are enforced against and someone else is not, and they do mind when told something is over when it isn't, even if down to millimetres.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Was he actually unsuccessful / failed at managing the bus companies?

Yes, certainly at Go North East anyway, which is still paying the price after his tenure there.

I know a bit less about the open access operators. Hull Trains seems to have a good reputation, Lumo less so, and I can't imagine that First's senior management would give two hoots about ASLEF disliking him. But the wording in that article very much reads like he has been robustly persuaded that he ought to explore new opportunities, rather than that he has been head-hunted. The article is by the Press Association, who are not prone to hyperbole, so there will be a reason for that tone.

Let's see where he ends up.

 

[hacman]

Hull and Lumo are certainly commercially very successful and planning expansion with the Stirling services. Hull gets very high satisfaction ratings and punctuality. Lumo seems to get more complaints than other operators in some areas, but when I tried to dig into the Transport Focus data on complaint categories, they mainly seemed to be related to comfort (Lumo are finally replacing their aged seats), and quality of service (but a bit like RyanAir, this is what you get with a budget service and may not be completely preventable?)

I'd not agree with that on Lumo, the reviews are overridingly bad, but most of it is just about the same sort of thing that (as @styles says) is widely thrown at budget airlines, such as inconsistent* luggage enforcement.

* I don't think people mind strict when it's cheap, but they do mind when they are enforced against and someone else is not, and they do mind when told something is over when it isn't, even if down to millimetres.

I've used Lumo a good few times, and found it to be pretty great to be honest. Yes, it's not as fancy as LNER in some respects, but the staff have always been lovely, and the service has done what it needed to - a relatively comfortable and reasonably priced trip to/from the capital. The only complaint I would have is that the legroom is slightly less generous than on LNER (but it is ample, as I can still sit without issues at 6'10") and the train was dirty on two occasions, which is certainly not something unique to them.

It's cheap, cheerful and does what it advertises. The luggage issues are a result of trying to pack more seats in, and are akin to budget airlines - but this can be solved with reconfiguring the layout if they add more coaches or start doubling up sets as the operation expands.

I'm not sure what you mean about aged seats @styles - their 803s are still pretty much brand new! Their seats are arguably more comfortable than the LNER ones, though I despise the winged headrests.

 

[800001]

I've used Lumo a good few times, and found it to be pretty great to be honest. Yes, it's not as fancy as LNER in some respects, but the staff have always been lovely, and the service has done what it needed to - a relatively comfortable and reasonably priced trip to/from the capital. The only complaint I would have is that the legroom is slightly less generous than on LNER (but it is ample, as I can still sit without issues at 6'10") and the train was dirty on two occasions, which is certainly not something unique to them.

It's cheap, cheerful and does what it advertises. The luggage issues are a result of trying to pack more seats in, and are akin to budget airlines - but this can be solved with reconfiguring the layout if they add more coaches or start doubling up sets as the operation expands.

I'm not sure what you mean about aged seats @styles - their 803s are still pretty much brand new! Their seats are arguably more comfortable than the LNER ones, though I despise the winged headrests.

Aged seats as in the seat covers are very heavily stained.
However they have/are getting new seat coverings which should/will vastly enhance the seat appearance.
But we digress, the thread is about Martijn.

 

[styles]

I've used Lumo a good few times, and found it to be pretty great to be honest. Yes, it's not as fancy as LNER in some respects, but the staff have always been lovely, and the service has done what it needed to - a relatively comfortable and reasonably priced trip to/from the capital. The only complaint I would have is that the legroom is slightly less generous than on LNER (but it is ample, as I can still sit without issues at 6'10") and the train was dirty on two occasions, which is certainly not something unique to them.

It's cheap, cheerful and does what it advertises. The luggage issues are a result of trying to pack more seats in, and are akin to budget airlines - but this can be solved with reconfiguring the layout if they add more coaches or start doubling up sets as the operation expands.

I'm not sure what you mean about aged seats @styles - their 803s are still pretty much brand new! Their seats are arguably more comfortable than the LNER ones, though I despise the winged headrests.

I think their main issue is that people in the UK who have travelled by train are not used to things like strict luggage checks/limits, pre-ordering food, etc. So people who are perhaps used to travelling LNER or Avanti are taken back a bit.

In terms of the seats, they may not actually be that old, but they show the dirt up pretty easily so many of them have got a bit of an aged or dirty appearance. They're being replaced with new seats with moquettes which will help though.

Some of the earlier Lumo complaints were frankly teething problems. Luggage being stacked up on the toilets for example - resolved by enforcing luggage size limits, and taking a handful of seats out of service in exchange for more luggage storage. I don't think Lumo expected to be as popular as they were, but this did also seem like an oversight given they were specifically trying to attract air passengers to take the train between London and Newcastle/Edinburgh. A lot of people would choose Lumo precisely so they don't have to pay £40 on a £20 air fare to add a suitcase to the hold.

There is an issue in that they run 5 car sets, infrequently. If there's disruption, you can't expect say 2x 10 car set of LNER passengers to fit onto 1 5 car set Lumo train. Lumo were talking about longer sets, or joining 2x 5 car sets, but believe there was an issue with overhead power availability?

But yeah I've never personally had an issue when using Lumo. I book far enough in advance to get a table seat and take my own lunch and flask of coffee. Power sockets freely available and I'm yet to be severely delayed.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

It's moving off topic somewhat, but in their latest investors presentation from their earnings yesterday, Lumo do refer to extended 10 car operation, where necessary.

No idea if the platforms work for that though, especially if they're not long enough because it shares with another service.

 

[styles]

My hunch would be that his departure is more to do with the staff relationships at Hull Trains than Lumo's performance to be honest.

 

[Bletchleyite]

My hunch would be that his departure is more to do with the staff relationships at Hull Trains than Lumo's performance to be honest.

Or maybe he genuinely has just moved on by his own choice. Will be interesting to see where he pops up next. Lumo isn't my thing as I've said many times before but it always struck me as competently managed and has done better than I expected for FirstGroup.

I recall when Alex Hornby last changed jobs there was all manner of rumour about what had happened but it turned out he'd just decided to try his hand at rail rather than bus.

 

[Clarence Yard]

Yes, certainly at Go North East anyway, which is still paying the price after his tenure there.

I know a bit less about the open access operators. Hull Trains seems to have a good reputation, Lumo less so, and I can't imagine that First's senior management would give two hoots about ASLEF disliking him. But the wording in that article very much reads like he has been robustly persuaded that he ought to explore new opportunities, rather than that he has been head-hunted. The article is by the Press Association, who are not prone to hyperbole, so there will be a reason for that tone.

Let's see where he ends up.

He was being head-hunted so I expect we will find out soon enough where he is heading.

It is usual practise at FG to instantly remove a senior manager from position if they get another job away from FG and there maybe a conflict with existing FG activities.

He is young, ambitious and well regarded amongst his peers so, after 3 years at FG, a move was expected. There were no opportunities for him to advance at FG.

 

[Three_Counties]

Martijn lasted 4 years at each of Reading Buses (2014-8) and Go Ahead North East (2018-22) but only 3 at Lumo / Hull Trains.

I wonder if he is losing interest more quickly as he ages ...

 

[Deepgreen]

I think their main issue is that people in the UK who have travelled by train are not used to things like strict luggage checks/limits, pre-ordering food, etc. So people who are perhaps used to travelling LNER or Avanti are taken back a bit.

In terms of the seats, they may not actually be that old, but they show the dirt up pretty easily so many of them have got a bit of an aged or dirty appearance. They're being replaced with new seats with moquettes which will help though.

Some of the earlier Lumo complaints were frankly teething problems. Luggage being stacked up on the toilets for example - resolved by enforcing luggage size limits, and taking a handful of seats out of service in exchange for more luggage storage. I don't think Lumo expected to be as popular as they were, but this did also seem like an oversight given they were specifically trying to attract air passengers to take the train between London and Newcastle/Edinburgh. A lot of people would choose Lumo precisely so they don't have to pay £40 on a £20 air fare to add a suitcase to the hold.

There is an issue in that they run 5 car sets, infrequently. If there's disruption, you can't expect say 2x 10 car set of LNER passengers to fit onto 1 5 car set Lumo train. Lumo were talking about longer sets, or joining 2x 5 car sets, but believe there was an issue with overhead power availability?

But yeah I've never personally had an issue when using Lumo. I book far enough in advance to get a table seat and take my own lunch and flask of coffee. Power sockets freely available and I'm yet to be severely delayed.

They are right to be taken aback - that airline-style approach is unhelpful, when the railway should be a turn-up-and-go regime, with luggage 'freedom'. It's what sets it apart from air, for example. I fervently hope we don't slip down the route of essential advanced booking, etc., on our railways - flexibility is essential.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

They are right to be taken aback - that airline-style approach is unhelpful, when the railway should be a turn-up-and-go regime, with luggage 'freedom'. It's what sets it apart from air, for example. I fervently hope we don't slip down the route of essential advanced booking, etc., on our railways - flexibility is essential.

Lumo have built their service around being the airline competitor on time and price, not luggage.

 

[The exile]

They are right to be taken aback - that airline-style approach is unhelpful, when the railway should be a turn-up-and-go regime, with luggage 'freedom'.

Strictly speaking we haven’t had “luggage freedom” for years - just that most people would be hard-pressed to cope with the limit.

 

[Travelmonkey]

Even the franchised operators have issues with luggage one previous trip a guard over the PA "We are EMR a passenger train company not DHL please can you keep bags off seats and out of vestibules" although luggage isn't a issue that will oust a MD, it does seem there is a circle especially with Ray Steyning, Marjin recently drove a heritage bus to help Ray celebrate his birthday,

Creating only the very best of impressions

Saturday 19th April 2025 Today’s post celebrates a true bus and rail industry legend who reached the milestone age of 75 yesterday. To mark the occasion my good friend Ray Stenning was given …

busandtrainuser.com

Given that he owns that vehicle but its cared for by Ensign hopefully he's not burt his bridges too much with the upper First Mangement. Much can be said and has about him on other threads that and those sent into clean after him (Nigel Fetherham at GNE)

Now much can be said about best impressions and Ray but it seems that Ray, Martjin & Alex Hornby seem to keep quite close ties regardless of where they end up.

 

[455824]

We can now start naming the class 803
803001 Martin Gilbert the great failure
All the company he works for get in to trouble
Thames bus
Wiltax
Central parking system
Reading buses
Go northeast
Arriva train Wales
Yorkshire tiger
Mitcham belle
Surrey connect

Maybe it's time for him to leave the poor work in the bus and rail
And go somewhere else

 

[800001]

We can now start naming the class 803
803001 Martin Gilbert the great failure
All the company he works for get in to trouble
Thames bus
Wiltax
Central parking system
Reading buses
Go northeast
Arriva train Wales
Yorkshire tiger
Mitcham belle
Surrey connect

Maybe it's time for him to leave the poor work in the bus and rail
And go somewhere else

How is Lumo or Hull Trains a failure? And how has Martijn failed at first group?

 

[Clarence Yard]

He hasn’t, as the results have shown. But there was nowhere else for him to go at FG.

 

[800001]

He hasn’t, as the results have shown. But there was nowhere else for him to go at FG.

I know he wasn’t a failure, just curious to why the above posters feels that he had

 

[ian1944]

We can now start naming the class 803
803001 Martin Gilbert the great failure

He may have a forename spelt unusually, but it's not hard to get it right.

 

[Djgr]

He may have a forename spelt unusually, but it's not hard to get it right.

That j must have driven him crazy over the years!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

He hasn’t, as the results have shown. But there was nowhere else for him to go at FG.

There must be some big appointments coming up in the DFTO/GBR-osphere, and plenty of senior TOC managers coming free...

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

There must be some big appointments coming up in the DFTO/GBR-osphere, and plenty of senior TOC managers coming free...

A considerable number of the more senior leaders in rail have absolutely no desire to work for, or under, an organisation that is likely to be subject to extensive political interference, even if at arms length.

That's before you get into the optics and issues around (or lack of) pay, "bonuses" and conditions as a quasi civil servant, and the fact that they are all made available to the public.

Once GBR beds-in, and people have a firmer understanding about how it's running and what level of ministerial interference is actually happening - some may be tempted back.

 

[Travelmonkey]

A considerable number of the more senior leaders in rail have absolutely no desire to work for, or under, an organisation that is likely to be subject to extensive political interference, even if at arms length.

That's before you get into the optics and issues around (or lack of) pay, "bonuses" and conditions as a quasi civil servant, and the fact that they are all made available to the public.

I'm guessing it will depend on the leader, many were surprised David Horne stayed in post when the ill fated Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) were superseded by LNER, and before that tenure at the top end of East Midlands Trains.

 

[Bald Rick]

A considerable number of the more senior leaders in rail have absolutely no desire to work for, or under, an organisation that is likely to be subject to extensive political interference, even if at arms length.

Almost every senior leader in rail (outside of the construction supply chain) has been working under extensive political interference for at least half a decade now. GBR should remive some of that politics.