Network Rail appoints Waboso to spearhead digital railway plans

Waboso joins from London Underground where he was capital programmes director

Network Rail has appointed at David Waboso as managing director, digital railway.

Waboso is currently capital programmes director at London Underground, where he is responsible for leading the £1.5 billion annual Tube Upgrade Programme.

He will lead Network Rail’s Digital Railway directorate, which includes the Digital Railway Programme – a cross-industry programme funded and facilitated by Network Rail to boost the capacity of Britain’s rail network using digital signalling and train control technologies.

A member of Network Rail’s executive committee, Waboso will report to chief executive Mark Carne. He replaces Jerry England, who retires later this year.

Carne said: “Attracting someone of David's talent highlights the progress we have made and our determination to use technology to unlock capacity on Britain's congested network. I look forward to working with him and I know he will continue Jerry’s excellent work in making sure we have the plans and funding in place to deliver the railway Britain needs for the future.”

Prior to joining London Underground in 2005, David was executive director at the Strategic Rail Authority where he was responsible for integrating engineering, safety and standards across the industry and led cross-industry national programmes for new signalling and communications systems. He has also worked for Bechtel and Nichols and played a leading role in the development and delivery of a number of key upgrades including the Thameslink Programme, Jubilee Line extension and Docklands Light Railway.

Waboso was recently appointed president of the Association for Project Management. He was awarded a CBE in 2014 for services to transport in London and the infrastructure leader prize in the UK Black British Business Awards.