Transport Secretary Ken Skates has welcomed the honour for Vernon Everett
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Ken Skates has welcomed the CBE awarded to chair of Transport for Wales in the New Year’s Honours list. Vernon Everitt receives the honour in recognition of his outstanding contribution to public transport.
As well as being chair of Transport for Wales, a role he took up last summer having previously been a non executive member of the board, Mr Everitt is also transport commissioner and chair of transport for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, where he played a pivotal role in the delivery of major transport improvements.
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During his career he has led significant improvements in customer service and helped grow passenger numbers across major transport networks.
Mr Skates, said: “I am pleased to congratulate to Vernon on this well-deserved recognition for his exceptional contribution, pragmatism and innovation in public transport. I was delighted with his appointment as Chair of Transport for Wales and look forward to drawing on his leadership, wisdom and experience as we transform public transport in Wales in 2026.”
Advising mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Mr Everitt led the development and delivery of the Bee Network – the city region’s integrated public transport system that brings together buses, trams, and trains with better customer service, fares and ticketing and modern data analytics.
Mr Burnham said: “This is well-deserved recognition of Vernon’s central role in overseeing the biggest change in public transport outside London in decades.
“The Bee Network’s success is in large part down to Vernon’s knowledge and commitment to public service. With it, he has created a template for the transformation of public transport across England in the years to come.
“We congratulate Vernon on his honour and look forward to working with him to bring rail into the Bee Network in 2026.”
