With almost 20 years in the rail industry, Jonathan Wilcox has built a career shaped by operational depth, technical expertise, and continuous learning.
His experience spans a range of operational functions across several Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and Freight Operating Companies (FOCs), giving him a broad understanding of how different parts of the railway interact and depend on one another.
Jonathan worked as a Consultant Rail Planner at PRA Operations Planning Ltd. In this role, he has delivered a wide variety of planning and advisory projects across the UK and beyond. This work has given him exposure to diverse challenges and operational contexts, reinforcing both the complexity and importance of effective train planning in delivering reliable rail services.
Currently, Jonathan works as a Senior Consultant, Rail Operations Planning at WSP UK & Ireland.
Jonathan upgraded his CIRO membership in 2024 to gain greater recognition within the industry and among peers and clients, reflecting the breadth and depth of his experience.
The process has proved highly valuable. Using the CIRO POD framework, he identified gaps in his knowledge and directed his continuous learning more effectively, particularly in areas of the industry outside his direct experience.
As Train Planning interfaces with almost every part of rail operations, this broader understanding has made him a more effective planner, strengthening both his technical and collaborative capabilities.
For Jonathan, CIRO has played an important role in helping him better understand the wider rail system.
Site visits, professional talks, and resources such as the Operators’ Handbook have helped demystify different areas of the industry and provide practical insight beyond his day-to-day role.
‘The membership upgrade process itself also gave me a very good opportunity to actually sit and recap my career right back to its earliest days, which is something we don’t often do, and has allowed me to reframe experience gained many years ago so that it retains relevance in a more contemporary context’.
Jonathan sees CIRO membership as more than post-nominals. While the recognition is welcome, the real value lies in what it represents: professional responsibility, continuous development, and contribution to others.
In his view, membership signifies being part of a community committed to improving both the industry and the people within it. It also carries an expectation to support others in their development, wherever possible.
Jonathan advised that the benefits of membership far outweigh the time spent completing an application, making it a very worthwhile investment. He explained that the process doesn’t need to be done all at once, as applicants can refine and add to their submission over time. ‘It’s something you can easily chip away at during a quiet hour at home, on your commute, or even during a PNB – personal needs break.’
Looking ahead, Jonathan aims to continue developing his expertise in Train Planning while supporting the next generation of planners entering the profession.
A key personal goal is to achieve Fellow-graded membership with CIRO, for which he has already begun preparing and continues to build upon as his experience grows.
For those starting out in railway operations, Jonathan highlights one constant truth: Change is the only constant on the railway, so keeping knowledge up to date is an endless task.
He encourages new professionals to regularly travel across their network; it will help them identify emerging issues from firsthand experience. They should also invest some time studying rail operations in other parts of the country, and even abroad. It is always enlightening to learn how others approach issues that have similarities to those you may encounter. He also stresses the importance of taking every opportunity to visit behind the scenes. ‘Take every opportunity you are offered to visit behind the scenes and learn as much as possible, CIRO events can help with that!’
Outside of work, Jonathan enjoys spending time with his family, going on holiday, attending concerts, and supporting Aston Villa at football matches.
He also dedicates time to volunteering on a heritage railway, helping to restore, maintain, and crew ex-British Rail diesel locomotives, an activity that combines passion with preservation of rail history.
Accelerate your career journey by upgrading you CIRO membership. Find out how, and take the first step here: https://www.ciro.org/upgrade-your-membership/
