Colin J. Churcher

 EDUCATION
Eltham College, London, England, 1953 - 1960.
University of Reading, England, 1960 - 1963. Graduated with BA degree, honours in Political Economy.

LANGUAGES - English, French, some Spanish.

CITIZENSHIP - Dual Canadian and British.

CAREER - From University, I joined British Railways on a two year Management Training Course. I was then appointed Assistant Station Manager, Reading. Then followed a posting as Project Officer, Fishguard Harbour and finally I became Area Manager, Haverfordwest where I was responsible for all railway operating and commercial functions in South West Wales.

I moved to Ottawa, Canada in 1968 as a Research Economist with the Canadian Transport Commission and transferred to Transport Canada in 1971 as a Program Evaluation Officer. I moved into the grain transportation field in 1975 and was responsible for a large ($1.3 billion) branch line rehabilitation program as well as the purchase of 15,000 grain hopper cars. In 1986 I became Director General, Railway Safety, being responsible for writing and passing into law the Railway Safety Act. From 1989 I was responsible for the safe regulation of Canadian railways through the administration of the legislation.

I have advised provincial and other governments on railway safety regulation and, in particular, relations between the railway and the regulator.

INTERESTS - My main interests are music, photography, nature, reading and the study of railways. My work related and personal interest in railways has involved travel to the United Kingdom, Europe, Soviet Union, Canada, USA, Caribbean, Central and Latin America, Australia, China, Africa and the Pacific.

developing the philosophy;
negotiating and obtaining consensus with railways, unions, shippers, governments and others;
drafting the bill;
consulting with parliamentarians;
appearing before committees of both House of Commons and the Senate. 

The Railway Safety Act became law in January 1989 at which time I became responsible for its administration. With a staff of 130 people in Ottawa and across the country (budget $20m approx.), I was responsible for:

writing rules and regulations so as to ensure safe railway operation;
managing programs to monitor railway safety performance;
ensuring compliance where threats to safety are identified, and;
initiating safety improvements where appropriate.

acquiring 15,000 hopper cars for grain transportation (approx. $600 million);
rehabilitation of a large part of the Prairie branch line network ($1.3 billion);
developing a new grain rate structure and participating in the drafting of grain transport legislation.

supervised daily operations and took charge during emergencies;
enforced rules and regulations relating to train operation;
developed relations with customers, and;
initiated and conducted negotiations at the local level with trade unions.

In 1973, I was seconded to the National Capital Commission to bring a steam locomotive and train to Ottawa. Under a very tight deadline, I made all arrangements necessary to establish the tourist train to Wakefield, Quebec.

From 1970 to 1989, I held a number of positions, including President, with the Bytown Railway Society. During this time I learnt a number of skills including ways to motivate volunteers.