Mark Downes

Mark Downes has extensive experience in the engineering and transportation industry. Mark currently serves as the Engineering Director at East West Railway Company, where they collaborate with colleagues to develop and deliver a new railway line from Oxford to Cambridge. Prior to this, Mark worked as a Project Director at WSP in the UK.

In 2022, Mark held several roles, including Vice President at The PWI and Operations Director at Mace. At Mace, they were responsible for a development and delivery portfolio and worked with clients such as train operators, local authorities, government bodies, and private developers.

Before their roles in 2022, Mark took a career break and worked as the Head of Capital Delivery (West Coast South) at Network Rail from 2010 to 2022. In this position, they managed a diverse portfolio of renewal and enhancement schemes and led a team of project management professionals. Mark also served as the Head of Engineering and Programme Engineering Manager at Network Rail, where they oversaw the delivery of railway infrastructure enhancements and renewals.

Mark has also held roles at Amey, Arup, Network Rail, and Scott Wilson (now part of URS Corporation) earlier in their career.

Mark Downes completed their Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree in Civil Engineering from Coventry University in the period from 1994 to 1997. Mark later pursued an MSc (Eng) degree in Rail Systems Engineering from The University of Sheffield, which they successfully completed from the years 2001 to 2003.