Appointments of Non-Executive Directors to the Board of Scottish Rail Holdings
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport has announced the appointments of two Non-Executive Directors to the Board of Scottish Rail Holdings Limited, the Scottish Government company that owns ScotRail Trains Ltd and Caledonian Sleeper Ltd.
Carolyn Griffiths – Non-Executive Director (Safety)
Carolyn Griffiths is the incumbent Non-Executive Director (Safety) post holder. Carolyn has accepted a new appointment offer which began on 01 July 2025 following the expiry of her interim appointment on 30 June 2025.
Carolyn is a senior rail professional and engineer with extensive experience spanning from shop floor technician to Board Director. She has established new rail organisations and managed major projects in the UK and overseas. She has worked in rail engineering operations, manufacturing and economic regulation. Carolyn founded, and was the first Chief Inspector of, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), establishing the team, the creation of the enabling secondary legislation, its professional investigation standards, training and relationships with other investigation authorities. She led the RAIB for the first 10 years of its operations during which time it completed and published 250 investigations.
Carolyn has considerable Board experience and is a Non-Executive Director for ScotRail Trains Ltd and Caledonian Sleeper Ltd and chairs the SHE Committees for both companies. She has previously worked as a Non-Executive Director for Irish Rail and AES Engineering. She is highly involved in promoting engineering as a profession, has been the President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, a Board member of Engineering Council and is currently a Board member of the Royal Academy of Engineering. She chairs the rail group of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety. She has been awarded two honorary doctorates and most recently an OBE for her contribution to the rail industry and the engineering profession.
Mike Bagshaw – Non-Executive Director
Mike Bagshaw has been appointed a Non-Executive Director to the Board of Scottish Rail Holdings. His new appointment will begin on 04 July 2025.
Until recently, Mike served as Managing Director of MTR Elizabeth line, where he led the UK’s busiest and fastest-growing rail operation, delivering industry-leading customer satisfaction and operational excellence.
Mike’s railway career began in front-line, customer-facing roles with British Rail and has since spanned leadership positions in operations, commercial strategy, and business transformation. Notably, he was part of the initial management team responsible for Chiltern Railways’ successful expansion into the West Midlands, leveraging new infrastructure and rolling stock to drive exceptional passenger growth and customer satisfaction.
As Commercial Director at Arriva Trains Wales, Mike worked closely with the Welsh Government to develop strategies that transformed performance, introduced new routes and services, and consistently delivered high levels of passenger growth.
Appointed Managing Director of MTR Elizabeth line in 2023, Mike played a pivotal role in the staged opening plan of the Elizabeth Line while maintaining the highest levels of operational delivery. Under his leadership, the MTR Elizabeth line achieved the highest levels of customer satisfaction across the Transport for London network and regularly carried over 800,000 daily passengers. Mike stepped down from his role in May 2025 at the end of MTR Elizabeth Line's Concession period, following a successful transfer to the successor operator, GTS Rail Operations Limited.
Ministerial Appointments
Carolyn was the interim Non-Executive Director (Safety) member to the Board of Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd. Her interim appointment expired on 30 June 2025.
Carolyn is Chair of the Carmont Vehicle Recommendations Steering Group in Scotland.
The postholders do not hold any other ministerial appointments.
Other Key Public Appointments
The postholders do not hold any other key public appointments.
Political Activity
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the Scottish Government’s ethical standards framework, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Ms Griffiths and Mr Bagshaw have no political activity to declare in the last five years.
Remuneration
This appointments are part-time and attract the following remuneration:
- Non-Executive Director (Safety) – up to 83 days at £360 per day.
- Non-Executive Director – up to 70 days at £360 per day.
The next Board meeting is expected to take place on 21 August 2025.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop said:
"I am pleased to offer Carolyn Griffiths the permanent appointment of Non-Executive Director (Safety) and Mike Bagshaw the appointment of Non-Executive Director to the Board of Scottish Rail Holdings.
Carolyn has already provided valuable skills and knowledge to the Board of the Scottish Rail Holdings over the last two years as an interim Non-Executive Director (Safety) and Mike Bagshaw brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise of the rail industry.
I welcome both to their roles on a substantive basis and look forward to the valuable contribution they will undoubtedly provide to Scottish Rail Holdings and Scotland’s Railway.”