Senior figures in the transport sector were awarded some of the top gongs in the Queen's New Year's Honours List this year.

Former HS2 and Crossrail chairman, Douglas Oakervee was knighted following his work chairing a review of HS2's business case.

The positive recommendations of the review, commissioned by the prime minister in 2019, helped save the project amid growing controversy over rising costs. HS2's route plan has since been dramatically cut back by the Government.

One of the country's most distinguished engineers, Dr Oakervee was recognised for services to transport and infrastructure delivery having overseen major projects both in the UK and abroad.

Laura Shoaf, managing director of Transport for the West Midlands, was given a CBE for services to economic regeneration in the region.

She was also recently named one of the UK's first Violence Against Women and Girls Transport Champions, having been chosen by Government to lead efforts to tackle violence against women and girls on transport.

Another popular choice for a gong was Alan Benson who chairs the accessibility charity Transport for All and is a former columnist of our sister publication Transport Network. He was given an MBE for services to public transport for people with disabilities.

As with the last two years of awards, several of the transport winners were recognised for their work tackling the impacts of COVID on the sector, while safety, accessibility and diversity and inclusion also featured prominently this year. 

Full list of transport winners:

Knights Bachelor Knighthoods

Dr Douglas Edwin OAKERVEE FrEng CBE Chair, Independent Review of HS2. For services to Transport and Infrastructure Delivery

Order of the Bath Companions of the Order of the Bath

Gareth Neil DAVIES Director General, Aviation, Maritime, International and Security Group, Department for Transport. For Public Service

Order of the British Empire, Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

  • Professor Phillip Thomas BLYTHE FREng Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Transport. For services to Science and Engineering in Transport and Government
  • Benjamin RIMMINGTON Lately Co-Director, Road Safety Standards and Services, Department for Transport. For services to Transport during Covid-19
  • Laura Manning SHOAF Lately Managing Director, Transport for the West Midlands. For services to Economic Regeneration in the West Midlands
  • Rachel Susan SKINNER FREng Executive Director, WSP. For services to Infrastructure

Officers of the Order of the British Empire

  • Barclay John DAVIES For services to Public Transport and to the Government
  • Mark James FOWLES Lately Managing Director, Nottingham Transport. For services to Public Transport and to Charity
  • Rekha THAWRANI Global Head, NEC Contracts, Thomas Telford Ltd. For services to Infrastructure and British Exports

Members of the Order of the British Empire

  • Simon Edward FRENCH Chief Inspector of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch. For services to Railway Safety
  • Alison KILBANE-GRIFFITHS Corporate Customer Relationship Manager, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. For services to Transport
  • Keith David RICHARDS Chair, Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. For services to Accessible Transport
  • Thomas SPEDDING Transport Manager, Nuclear Transport Solutions. For services to the UK Nuclear and Transport Industries
  • David WELLS Chief Executive Officer, Logistics UK. For services to Transport and Logistics during Covid-19
  • Alan Richard BENSON Chair, Transport for All. For services to Public Transport for People with Disabilities
  • Barbara Anne COOPER Corporate Director Growth, Environment and Transport, Kent County Council. For services to Transport and to the Covid-19 Response
  • Barry Macdonald GRAHAM Senior Rail Adviser, Northern Trains. For services to the Rail Industry
  • George Lennox MARCAR Driver Policy Implementation Manager, Transport for London. For services to Transport in London
  • Joanna Mary SALTER Pilot and Aviation Ambassador, Department for Transport. For services to Aviation
  • Dr Lorraine Elisabeth WHITMARSH Professor of Environmental Psychology, University of Bath. For services to Social Research in Climate Change, Energy and Transport
  • William Delwyn EVANS Head, Enforcement Transformation, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. For services to Road Safety during Covid-19

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire

  • Akthar HUSSAIN Systems Engineer, Network Rail. For services to Diversity and Inclusion
  • Bronagh MCDONNELL Bus Driver and Driver Mentor. For services to Public Transport and to Community Engagement in Northern Ireland
  • Jeremy James WALL Duty Operations Manager, Transport for London and Special Inspector, City of London Police. For services to Transport and Public Safety
  • Jennifer Dale WIGGLE Lately Services Director, Living Streets. For services to Active Travel
  • Vincent Victor JAMES Employee, Network Rail. For services to Prisoners during Covid-19
  • Mihaela MAZILU (Milla Mazilu) Volunteer, Royal Academy of Engineering and Network Rail Employee. For services to the Covid-19 Response