Sector professionals and operational staff who kept transport links moving and volunteered in their local communities during the Covid-19 crisis have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Also honoured are former transport commissioner for London Mike Brown who receives a CBE and Rail Freight Group director general Maggie Simpson who is awarded an OBE.

The list’s publication was delayed from June due to the pandemic and particularly recognises those who have gone above and beyond their duties since the start of lockdown.

Network Rail is particularly well represented, with MBEs awarded to railway workers Simon Constable and Dave Williams, signallers Phil Graham and Chris Conway and operations manager Gareth Mallion for various Covid volunteering efforts.

For example Chris helped the homeless in Blackpool, organising for 1200 hot meals to be delivered every week. “From a very young age I’ve always wanted to help those with less than I had,” he said.

Train manager Richard Thomson of Transport for London also received an MBE for services to transport during the pandemic while Ibrar Akram of TfL’s dial a ride service is awarded a British Empire Medal.

Ibrar – a control centre manager – worked quickly to adapt the dial a ride services from their intended use providing transport for older and disabled people, to instead deliver food and shopping to them and key workers.

“I am so happy that we have been able to provide essential support to so many people when they have needed it most,” he said.

British Empire Medals also go to Highways England employee Gregory Doughty for services to transport and the homeless as well as Docklands Light Railway service delivey director Marcus Jones.

Aside from those receiving honours for services during Covid-19, London’s former transport commissioner Mike Brown was recognised with a CBE for his contributions to transport over many years.

Mike stepped down from his previous role earlier this year after five years leading delivery of the Mayor’s transport strategy and investment programme.

He was also formerly managing director of London Underground and Heathrow Airport, and led the Government's Strategic Transport Apprenticeship Taskforce. Mike currently chairs the delivery authority for the restoration of the Houses of Parliament.

London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan congratulated him on receiving the CBE and said: “Mike Brown displayed exceptional leadership and vision at the helm of TfL as former commissioner, helping to transform London’s public transport network into one of the best in the world. His recognition is very well deserved.”

OBEs go to Rail Freight Group director general Maggie Simpson, former Rail Alliance chair Colin Flack, Centre for Digital Built Britain’s digital framework task group chair Mark Enzer of Mott MacDonald and former Road Haulage Association board member Carol O’Brien, for services to diversity and inclusion in transport.

Former Department for Transport deputy director of national security Christopher Watts and current head of international vehicle standards Ian Yarnold also receive OBEs.

MBEs go to Muslims in Rail founder Nasir Khan for services to diversity and inclusion and Network Rail project director Brian Paynter for services to railway safety and charity.

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council’s road safety and business performance manager Carolyn Smith also receives an MBE while British Empire Medals go to Terence Malcolm of the North Down & Ards Road Safety Committee and road safety campaigner Lizzie Keys from Northern Ireland.

Former Northern Ireland Railways permanent way worker Raymond Dowey is awarded a medal for services to public transport and the Department for Transport’s passenger services and corporate finance advisory team leader Elizabeth Meade receives a medal for public service.

(Photograph: Yau Ming Low – Shutterstock)