Blackpool Transport Managing Director Jane Cole will retire in May after an almost 50-year career in the bus and rail industries.
She was awarded an OBE in the 2026 New Year’s Honours List and has been credited for her work in transforming the municipal operator. It is currently finalising the process of recruiting a successor.
Ms Cole first joined British Rail at the age of 18, working as a clerk in its payroll department. From there she secured a position at Blackpool North station where she was responsible for rostering.
Next she became a quality manager for the Provincial and Intercity sectors and an onboard manager before taking the position of Train Services Manager at Euston station in London.
After privatisation in 1997 she joined Virgin Trains, becoming regional manager for Anglo-Scottish services, and later took the same responsibility for Manchester and Liverpool routes.
Ms Cole was appointed Blackpool Transport Managing Director in 2015. She has also enjoyed roles within the Confederation of Passenger Transport – where she was its first woman President – and UKTram, the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board, and the North West Lancashire Chamber of Commerce.
Speaking about the decision to retire, she says: “I am really going to miss all the people who work so hard to deliver the best possible bus and tram services on the Fylde coast for residents and millions of tourists. It is certainly a very special place.
“Also, I am grateful for all the support I have received from members of my team, the wider Blackpool Transport family, the local authority, and colleagues from across the transport sector.”
Her time with Virgin Trains is noted as a particular highlight. “I learned so much from Richard Branson, his commitment to finding innovative ways to put the customer experience first, and the importance of building a work family around you that you can really trust,” Ms Cole continues.
After retirement, she expects to take some time away but intends to continue her support for several charities, entrepreneurs, and women who work in the transport industry.
