Media centre

Tuesday 22 Mar 2016

Former Amtrak chief executive appointed to board of Network Rail Consulting

Region & Route:

National

Network Rail Consulting, the international consultancy arm of Network Rail, is pleased to announce that Thomas Downs has been appointed as a non-executive director of Network Rail Consulting Ltd and chair of its North American business, Network Rail Consulting Inc.

Tom has over three decades of railway experience, including most recently four years at Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority where he served as a member of the board of directors, the last two as chair.

Tom began his railway career as a White House fellow serving as an executive assistant to the US secretary of transportation. Since then, Tom has taken on a number of CEO roles and has been both president and chief executive of Amtrak, the United States’ national railway passenger corporation.

Nigel Ash, managing director of Network Rail Consulting, said: "I am delighted that Tom has agreed to join the Network Rail Consulting board.  Tom’s leadership experience in the US rail market will offer a fresh perspective and serve to strengthen our position in North America. I look forward to working with him over the coming years. ”

Tom Downs said: "I am excited and privileged to serve on the board of an organization that has a global reputation for safety and effective management of rail capital and infrastructure that is second to none."

Network Rail Consulting was set up as a subsidiary in 2012 to harness the vast range of skills and experience available within Network Rail, demonstrate British expertise overseas and be an international ambassador for Britain’s rail industry. It is also helping channel innovation back into Network Rail’s core business.

In July 2015, Network Rail Consulting was selected as part of a consultant team led by Parsons Brinckerhoff to provide integration, program delivery and program management services to the California High-Speed Rail Authority in the United States. The CHSRA is developing California’s high-speed rail network – the first in the U.S. – which will connect the state’s mega-regions and contribute to economic development and a cleaner environment. 

END

Notes to editors

About Network Rail Consulting

• Network Rail Consulting is a wholly owned subsidiary of Network Rail, the owner and operator of Britain’s railway infrastructure.
• Network Rail Consulting aims to harness the vast range of skills and experience available within Network Rail to demonstrate British expertise overseas and be an international ambassador for Britain’s rail industry. It will also help channel innovation back into our core business, helping deliver a better value railway for Britain.
• The board of directors of Network Rail Consulting comprises Susan Cooklin (chair), Nigel Ash (managing director), Mike Prager (finance & commercial director), Graham Hopkins (non-executive director) and Tom Downs (non-executive director).
• Network Rail Consulting is selling the full range of rail expertise within Network Rail including:
  • Advisory: Re-structuring, privatisation, institutional, policy development and reviews, audits, procurement, bid support, rail operations including retail optimisation
  • Strategic Planning: Transport master plans, market assessments, demand forecasting, project appraisal and route utilisation strategies
  • Asset Management: Developing conceptual asset management frameworks, route asset management plans
  • Operations & Maintenance: Practical operating advice, timetabling and simulation modelling, maintenance regimes and outsourced operate and maintain contracts
  • Infrastructure Projects: Outputs definition, pre-feasibility, feasibility, project and programme management
• More information can be found at www.networkrailconsulting.com