NRC appoints Chris Heald as Regional Director for North America
Posted: 4 February 2020 | Global Railway Review | No comments yet
Heald will bring his experience of significant projects in the US and Canada to Network Rail Consulting’s New York office.


Network Rail Consulting (NRC) has named Chris Heald as Regional Director for North America.
The role will see Heald based in NRC’s New York office, building upon his experience in projects in the US and Canada, in addition to successfully leading and growing multi-disciplinary technical teams in both public and private sectors.
NRC, the wholly owned subsidiary of Network Rail, sells the organisation’s range of expertise to the rail sector, while enhancing the capabilities of its staff through international experience which is then in turn deployed back into UK operations.
Nigel Ash, Global Managing Director for Network Rail Consulting, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Chris to lead our business in North America. The rail market is particularly strong in Network Rail Consulting’s core service areas of advisory, asset management and maintenance, project and program management and operations optimisation. Chris’s experience and commitment to serving client’s needs will be instrumental in driving these opportunities forward with his team across the region.”
Chris previously held leadership and management roles at SNC-Lavalin Rail & Transit in the US, Toronto Transit Commission in Canada and Virgin Trains in the UK. His rail career started over 28 years ago with British Rail.


Chris Heald
“With an ongoing need to increase value from new and aged rail assets and enhance service levels for customers, the Network Rail Consulting team is uniquely positioned to apply unparalleled experience and knowledge to the North American market. I am extremely excited to be part of this team helping bring these solutions to clients throughout North America,” Heald said.
NEW REPORT FROM GLOBAL RAILWAY REVIEW: Track Insight – Track Maintenance | Transforming Track Maintenance Through Technology
Our latest expert-led Track Insight explores how industry leaders are revolutionising the future of track maintenance through cutting-edge innovation and real-world strategies.
From automation and robotics now streamlining inspections and repairs, to predictive maintenance powered by IoT sensors and advanced analytics, the rail sector is entering a new era of precision and efficiency. Companies like Goldschmidt, Bentley Systems, and MxV Rail are leading the charge, redefining how infrastructure is managed with AI, machine learning, and digital twins to reduce downtime and extend asset life.
In this new data-rich landscape, organisations such as Amtrak and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch are demonstrating how to turn vast streams of information—from track geometry to environmental monitoring into actionable intelligence for safer, smarter networks.
Download this insightful, practical guide for FREE and see how your operations can evolve – READ FOR FREE NOW!