David Prescott has 50 years’ experience in the transport field, ranging from academia, railways, consultancy through to government.

His lengthy railway career has included front line operations, freight and passenger commercial and contract management, customer services and strategic planning.

David has been involved in many ‘start-up’ operations, starting with Newcastle University’s Transport Operations Research Group, followed by British Rail business management, firstly in freight and then in the Provincial/Regional Railways passenger business. He was heavily involved in the development of the passenger aspect of British Rail privatisation, was one of the senior team to run the first ScotRail franchise and joined the Scottish Government prior to the creation of Transport Scotland.

He has been actively involved in most of the Scottish railway enhancement projects during the first two decades of the 21^stcentury, including new stations, all the route re-openings and upgrades as well as service enhancements.

He is also the Marketing and Development Director for open access passenger train operator Grand Union Trains, who will be running their first trains between Carmarthen and London Paddington in 2025.

He still runs his own consultancy, where he continues to provide a varied range of clients with his insights, in both the operational and strategic aspects of railway industry and is also the Marketing and Development Director for Grand Union Trains, an aspirant Open Access Passenger train operator.  He was involved in a local community land buy-out and until recently was chair of Dunblane Community Councillor and takes a strong interest in planning issues. He participated in the recent Scottish Government Planning Review process.