The High Speed Rail Group is delighted to announce the appointment of former Rail Minister and Chair of the Transport Select Committee, Huw Merriman, as our Non-Executive Chair.
Huw served as Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle constituency from 2015 to 2024, and was Minister of State for Rail, HS2 and Regional Transport at the Department for Transport between October 2022 and July 2024. During his tenure, he championed the shift from road to rail, strongly promoted rail apprenticeships and workforce upskilling and supported the growth of the freight sector. He was also instrumental in driving forward the East West Rail project, the Transpennine Route Upgrade and the Northumberland Line.
Prior to holding ministerial office, Huw was Chair of the Transport Select Committee for almost three years, and a member for seven years, and also served as Parliamentary Private Secretary at both the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Treasury.
Bringing with him valuable political insight into the nation’s transport landscape, Huw’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for UK rail, as the government looks to rail infrastructure investment to help turbocharge the UK’s growth prospects, alongside a continued emphasis on delivering HS2 in a more affordable and efficient way.
Huw championed HS2 whilst Chair of the Transport Select Committee and as Rail and Regional Transport Minister, only for the then Prime Minister to withdraw support and cancel Phase 2(a). Despite this, Huw has remained a long-standing champion of the project, describing it as ‘the railway of the future’, in addition to the other new rail enhancements which he sought to drive forward as alternative projects. HSRG is delighted to welcome such a dedicated advocate for UK rail to its leadership team.
Huw’s chairmanship was formally confirmed this month (October 2025), following approval by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA).
HSRG is a leading industry body committed to advancing the successful and efficient delivery of the UK’s rail infrastructure, particularly high speed rail, to create a nationwide network that drives socio-economic growth and strengthens regional connectivity, creating jobs and offering upskilling opportunities. Crucial to achieving this is the re-scoping of HS2 to a Euston to Crewe core, which would provide additional and urgently needed national transport capacity between London, the West Midlands and the North West.
Huw also serves as Chair of the Liverpool–Manchester Railway Partnership Board, working for Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region and the local authorities on the line of route to deliver a new railway between the two cities as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Commenting on his appointment, Huw Merriman, Chair, High Speed Rail Group, said:
“I have long championed rail as central to driving economic growth, connecting communities and supporting a more sustainable transport network. The UK now stands at an important crossroad for high speed rail. While progress on HS2 since the reset is encouraging, crucial decisions on Northern connectivity are still awaited. It is vital that these decisions fully reflect the opportunities for improved connectivity, increased capacity and regional growth.
“At the same time, as the UK celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway, we must learn from recent challenges across the rail industry and ensure new projects are delivered on time, on budget and in a way that maximises both transport and economic benefits.
“Developing a national, integrated rail network that connects North, South, East and West is in the national interest so I look forward to supporting and advising the High Speed Rail Group as it continues to make the case for high speed rail as a driver of national prosperity, innovation and opportunity.”