British train operator Go-Ahead is going out of Norway for good. June 9, 2026 The British train company that took over operations in southwestern Norway is giving up on running the three train lines Sørlandsbanen, Arendalsbanen and Jærbanen. All of them run between Oslo, Kristiansand and Stavanger, and it's been a bumpy ride for everyone involved. The British operator, Go-Ahead, has been running the three lines since 2019, after the former Conservatives-led government put all of Norway's train lines out to bid in 2017. That was part of railroad reforms prodded by EU competiton rules, and Go-Ahead became the first foreign operator of Norwegian train lines ever. Its ambitions were high back then, but trouble cropped up quickly. Norway's railway infrastructure has been badly in need of renovation all along, and the tracks on Sørlandsbanen have more twists and turns and steep stretches than most other rail lines in the country. Then Go-Ahead ran into criticism over maintenance of the train carriages for which it became responsible, some of which were also in need of frequent repair. Go-Ahead's latest managing director in charge of Norwegian operations, Patrick Verwer, has been critical of Norwegian authorities' railroad policy, and has no desire to continue operations in Norway when its current concession expires at the end of next year. "We have no plans in Norway after 2027," Verwer told Stavanger Aftenblad. "Now we're planning for a silent and seamless exit." This year got off to a bad start and then got worse after a series of problems along the tracks and with the train carriages. From September last year to February this year, more than 1,000 departures were cancelled because of problems with the trains that run on the route. Railroad authorities also found more than 2,000 flaws during an inspection of Go-Ahead train maintenance, 83 of which were deemed serious. Go-Ahead, meanwhile, claims it has lost NOK 530 million on its Norwegian operations despite state support. State officials at the transport ministry aren't happy either and on Tuesday, the Reds Party called for a halt to Go-Ahead's operations immediately. The Reds want to terminate the British operator's contract 18-months before it runs out. Passenger have also been running out of patience with the line, because of all the delays and cancellatons they experience. Now many are riding long-distance buses between Oslo and Kristiansand because they're far more reliable, while regional commuters complain that the train service they were promised is far too often replaced with minibus service. Go-Ahead's on-time record was only 66 percent last year, when a record number of trains (617) were cancelled. Go-Ahead's contract, however, still runs through December next year. The Reds plan to propose ending it immediately and turning over service to the former state-controlled train operator now called Vy. Ingrid Fiskaa, a Member of Parliament for the Socialist Left party (SV) also wants Go-Ahead to leave Norway as soon as possible. "We are looking for solutions so that (a new operator) can be in place quickly," Fiskaa told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) on Tuesday. She thinks the privatization of Norwegian trains has been a fiasco.

Go-Ahead Group appoints Chief Operating Officer. Go-Ahead Group is delighted that Sian Leydon will be joining as Chief Operating Officer, a newly created role, in July. Sian will bring her track record of leading growth, transformation and delivering results across complex, customer-focused industries to Go-Ahead. Sian was most recently Managing Director for mainland Europe at Arriva. Before that, her career included senior leadership roles across a range of sectors, including transport, aviation, utilities and management consulting. Throughout her career, Sian has held roles spanning operational leadership, strategy, transformation, customer, engineering, finance and general management. She is also an Independent Advisor on the Board of EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd. As Chief Operating Officer, Sian will join Go-Ahead's Executive Leadership Team and oversee operational performance, service reliability and customer experience across Go-Ahead's international portfolio. She will help drive its mission of connecting people and communities. Commenting on the appointment, Matt Carney, CEO, Go-Ahead Bus said: "Sian's experience scaling complex transport operations across multiple markets will be critical as we strengthen performance and expand internationally. Her experience across regulated infrastructure and transport businesses will support Go-Ahead's focus on sustainable growth and we're delighted that she's joining us." Sian Leydon added: "Go-Ahead has clear ambitions for the future, and I'm delighted to be joining the team at such a pivotal moment. I've been particularly impressed by their commitment to customers and the positive impact they have on their communities. I'm looking forward to supporting the team to continue delivering high-quality, sustainable and accessible public transport."

Angie Doll appointed as Managing Director Rail, Australia and New Zealand. Go-Ahead Group is delighted that Angie Doll, CEO, GTR, will start a new role as Managing Director Rail, Go-Ahead Australia and New Zealand from 1 June 2026. In her new role, Angie will oversee Go-Ahead's rail expansion in Australia and New Zealand. Angie has worked with the Go-Ahead Group for nearly twenty years, holding several senior leadership positions including Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Office of GTR. During her time as CEO, GTR achieved much success including: * Generating £192 million in social value in just 15 months * Delivering the UK's first signals-free commuter railway on the Great Northern City Line as part of the government-funded East Coast Digital Programme * Increasing Saturday ridership by 10 per cent and raised revenue by £3.6 million * Driving a 49% increase in female apprentices and launching two dedicated Women in Leadership apprenticeship programmes Patrick Verwer, CEO, Rail, Go-Ahead, said: "I've worked with Angie for many years and she has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, and a deep commitment to customers and communities. Her expertise makes her the perfect person to lead our rail expansion in Australia and New Zealand and we're delighted that she has accepted this new role at Go-Ahead." Angie Doll, CEO for GTR, said: "I've been part of the Go-Ahead family for nearly 20 years, and this move feels like a natural next chapter for me in what has been a long and rewarding career. I'm really proud of my legacy at GTR, particularly in improving performance for our customers, supporting our people, and making a positive impact in the communities we serve. It has been a privilege to lead such a dedicated and talented team, and I'm especially proud of the progress we've made in areas such as social value, inclusion, and innovation across the network. I'm really looking forward to working with the team at Go-Ahead Australia and New Zealand as we assess opportunities to bring our experience of operating large-scale, complex rail networks to the region."