Gary Prodger

Said the following about Karl Watts:

“Karl Watts has 38 years’ experience developing and managing passenger and freight operations. He has a record of improving operating, financial and safety performance. Karl is currently the Managing Director of the Rail Business Partnership and founder and Managing Director of the Rail Operations Group.

As Chairman of the UK’s Rail Freight Operations Group (RFOG) for six years, Karl played a significant part in modernising and enhancing the operational systems base of the industry. Karl then went on to establish the UK’s National Freight Safety Group (NFSG).

As Head of Operations at GB Railfreight, Karl led many projects to improve operating, financial and safety performance including ‘Maximising Locomotive Fuel Consumption’, ‘Delivering Operational Excellence’ and ‘Intelligent Driving’. He also project managed the delivery to London of 193 new air-conditioned tube trains for London Underground.

Karl was one of the two freight industry members of the UK’s Train Operations & Management Standards Committee (TOMSC) where he promoted several key changes to technical freight operations.

As Head of Assurance for Colas Rail, he project managed the launch of their UK operations, providing track maintenance and renewal services.

Karl has played key roles in establishing new urban metro operations including Kuala Lumpur Express Rail Link (Malaysia) and Athens Metro (Greece). Karl also provided a range of specialist services to the Heathrow Express project.

In his early career within the nationalised British Rail, Karl worked on high-profile projects including Inter-City 225 introduction, the Manchester Airport Rail Link and numerous new traction type introductions. Following the complete overhaul of the operating strategy, he also doubled revenue on one passenger route in a single year.

His career has taken him across a whole spectrum of disciplines of rail operations including commercial, traction & rolling stock, infrastructure engineering and signalling. As an established rail industry expert in both passenger and freight operations, Karl has delivered key speeches and presentations at numerous high profile rail industry forums including an international conference on Best Practice in Driver Management and the UK Risk Management Forum.

In 2013 Karl and two colleagues set up the Rail Operations Group. Karl’s drive and passion has driven this new business from strength to strength with it now being firmly established in the rail industry as the ‘go to’ company for Rail Vehicle Movements. Now working with all the leasing companies, train manufacturers and Duty Holders the reputation for quality and service is mark of the hard work, dedication and professionalism of Karl Watts.“