The King’s New Year Honours list includes a number of railway people who have been recognised for their services to the industry and its staff.

Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines has received a knighthood, while GB Railfreight chief executive officer John Smith has received an OBE for his services to the rail freight industry.

Network Rail’s Southern Region project manager Kathleen O’Malley has received a British Empire Medal for her outstanding work in creating the Routes Out of Homelessness charter for the railway, there is an MBE for Network Rail Chief Security Officer Peter Gibbons for his exceptional leadership in managing the £10 million aid programme for Ukrainian Railways, and also an MBE for human resource leader Janet Trowse, who led the Menopause Awareness Project at Network Rail.

Southeastern employee Lee Woolcott-Ellis will receive a British Empire Medal for services to Mental Health in Transport. He worked with the Rail Safety and Standards Board to help rail companies promote, manage and support mental wellbeing.

There is an OBE for Carolyn Griffiths, who chairs the Rail Group on the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, for her services to the rail industry, transport safety and the engineering profession.

Andrew Haines said: ‘I am incredibly honoured to receive this award. It’s not every day a boy from a comprehensive school in Merthyr Tydfil, or indeed anyone from the railway is recognised in this way, so it is immensely humbling. It’s a tribute to the work of the many thousands of people in the rail sector.

‘That's why it's a special pleasure to offer my congratulations to Kathleen, Janet and Peter for achieving recognition for the exceptional work that they have done.’