Former Chief Executive of Amtrak appointed Chair of Network Rail Consulting Inc.

Network Rail Consulting, the international consultancy arm of Network Rail, is pleased to announce that Thomas Downs has been appointed as chair of Network Rail Consulting Inc. with effect from March 2016.

Downs 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.

Downs began his transportation career as a White House Fellow serving as an executive assistant to the US Secretary of Transportation. Since then, Downs has taken on a number of CEO roles in organizations including president and chief executive of Amtrak.

Ron Hartman, president of Network Rail Consulting Inc., said, "I am delighted that Tom has agreed to join the Network Rail Consulting Inc. board. Tom’s wealth of knowledge and experience of the rail market will serve to strengthen our position in North America will be invaluable in helping us meet our growth objectives.  I look forward to working with him closely over the coming years. ”

Downs, commented, "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, second to none."

In July 2015, Network Rail Consulting was selected as part of a consultancy 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.