John Reed

John Reed leads the enhancement portfolio at the DfT covering the East Coast Main Line, Midland Main Line, Chiltern, Midlands region and Freight. John led the development of the Network Rail and DfT Memorandum of Understanding on Rail Enhancements published in 2016 – a joint commitment to new working practices to ensure both organisations better deliver improvements for users of the railway. He has secured funding for several £bn+ enhancement programmes which are now being delivered in partnership with Network Rail and train operators.

John joined DfT in 2008 to work with train operating companies to increase capacity as part of the CP4 HLOS Programme and negotiated extensions to several franchises. His career in the railway started at London Underground as a graduate trainee – including some operational experience as a Station Supervisor – followed by the sponsorship of projects to improve the sub-surface lines and introduce more step-free access at stations.