Chris Nutton

Chris Nutton is Currently the Major Projects Director at TransPennine Express; Chris has 20+ years of experience in the rail industry since joining a First Group Graduate trainee with roles and senior leadership responsibilities across multiple functions, including projects, asset management and capital delivery, traincrew, operations and performance and fleet, in a number of rail businesses (Northern, Virgin Trains and TPE). Since becoming Programme Director in 2012, Chris has led and delivered multiple complex pan-industry Timetable, Rolling Stock, Infrastructure and Operational projects, including:

• The integration of five key partners in the delivery of the introduction of a £60m fleet of Class 350 rolling stock within the same period as the entry into service of North West Electrification Phase 1 and the electrification and redevelopment of Ardwick depot alongside reliable operation.
• Chris has led Industry integration and planning for a number of complex infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of Liverpool Lime Street in 2015 and jointly authored the industry good practice guide to timetable change with Network Rail for Rail Delivery Group.
• Chris has delivered a number of commercial schemes, including leading the team in developing timetable, infrastructure and fleet plans for First Group’s winning bid for the TPE franchise in 2016. He is an experienced bid and mobilisation leader of diverse headcount and interim teams.
• Between 2016 and 2021, Chris led the team managing the £500m portfolio to achieve a 50% increase in fleet size with 221 new build ‘Nova’ vehicles of three types and delivered a £20m+ TOC capital expenditure portfolio under budget. Chris has delivered more than 50 trains to TPE across five new fleets with four different manufacturers, three financiers and five maintainers.
• Chris also spearheads the TOC’s collaboration with Network Rail and other operators. He leads its input-on network infrastructure upgrades, including the development of the £9bn+ upgrade plan for the Transpennine Mainline. Currently, chair of the TRU Strategic Access Task Force, coordinating resources from Network Rail and the operators to balance delivery costs with the need to maintain the critical operation of passenger and freight during the build.
• Chris leads the asset management team and Property Projects at TPE, delivering investment into stations, depots and other property assets.

Chris is a member of the Women in Rail, North West Committee, served for five years with the IRO North West Committee and has extensive experience in serving pan-industry committees and ops/commercial forums such as the National Task Force-Operators Group and Access Disputes Resolution Committee.

Chris holds a BA (Hons) degree from the University of Sheffield and a postgraduate certificate in management from the University of Leicester.