Network Rail Consulting Canada Announces Keith Sheardown as Director, Infrastructure Maintenance

Toronto, March 2026 - Keith Sheardown joins Network Rail Consulting (NRC) Canada in the role of Director, Infrastructure Maintenance.

Keith brings more than 35 years of experience working with rail and transit agencies to strengthen maintenance performance and improve the reliability of critical infrastructure. His career has focused on helping operators move from reactive maintenance to structured, outcomes led asset management.

Keith has led major maintenance improvement programmes covering operational readiness, maintenance strategy, organisational change, and workforce capability. His work has supported measurable improvements in safety, availability, and long term asset performance across complex rail networks.

Previously, Keith held senior leadership roles at Metrolinx and Bombardier, with responsibility for rail infrastructure and fixed assets across multiple North American systems. He has overseen fleet maintenance contracts for public transit agencies including GO Transit and Metrolink in Los Angeles, and led major car testing and commissioning teams at Long Island Railroad, Metro North Railroad and New York City Transit. In addition, he established and led an Operational Excellence group, applying Lean principles to improve asset reliability and reduce repair times across a number of maintenance programs.

In his new role, Keith will work with NRC clients seeking to strengthen maintenance planning, delivery, and organisational capability, with a particular focus on long term performance and operational resilience.

Keith commented: “I am thrilled to step into this role as we expand the product portfolio to include maintenance transformation and operational readiness services for rail transit authorities. What excites me most about joining Network Rail Consulting is the opportunity to build on their incredible legacy, while developing new solutions that help our clients achieve operational excellence.”

Regional Director, Canada, Steve Levene added: "Keith’s appointment is a significant step forward for our Canadian business. His track record in improving reliability, embedding operational excellence, and leading complex maintenance organisations directly supports our ambition to expand our capabilities to transit authorities.”

-ENDS-

For further information, contact: Sam Clarke, [email protected]

Notes to Editors

About Network Rail Consulting

Network Rail Consulting is a wholly owned subsidiary of Network Rail and was established in 2012 to benchmark Network Rail’s capabilities in the international market and enhance the capabilities of its staff through international experience which could then be deployed back into its UK operations.

Whilst Network Rail is a Public Body and funded by the UK Government, Network Rail Consulting is funded through its commercial operations and is classified as a Public Corporation.

The governance of Network Rail Consulting is through its holding company, Network Rail International Ltd. The Network Rail International Ltd board of directors comprises Neil Reynolds (non-executive director), Mark Prior (non-executive director), Leila Frances (non-executive director), Paul Marshall (non-executive director), Nigel Ash (global managing director) and Rachel Maguire (finance director).

Network Rail International Ltd has subsidiaries in Australia, Canada, UK and the USA; and operates from offices in Boston, Brisbane, London (HQ), Melbourne, New York, Riyadh, Sacramento, Seattle, Sydney, Toronto and Washington, D.C.

Network Rail Consulting is selling the full range of rail expertise available within Network Rail including advisory services, strategic planning, major projects, including systems integration and project and program management, railways operations, including timetabling and operational modelling; and asset management and maintenance.

More information can be found at www.networkrailconsulting.com or you can download the Network Rail Consulting Fact Sheet here.

About Network Rail

Network Rail owns and operates Britain’s rail infrastructure network – one of the world’s most intensively used rail networks. Our network is the fifth busiest rail network in the world and the second busiest in Europe. We:

• Provide a safe and efficient national railway network that carries over 1.7 billion passenger journeys and 15.8 billion tonne kilometres of freight;
• Own, repair and develop 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and thousands of signals;
• Operate 20 major stations and own 2,500 other stations, which are leased to train operators;
• Employ 40,000 people in asset management, operations, maintenance, renewals, and enhancement projects; and
• Have an annual turnover of over C$21.5bn, with capital expenditure of over C$11.1bn per annum.