# Gareth Dennis

Gareth Aled Dennis is a Scottish-Welsh rail engineer and writer based in York who specialises in transport systems and policy. He has also lectured at the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE).
Dennis is often cited or interviewed on the basis of his railway engineering expertise by the British press.

## Early life

Dennis grew up in Inverurie. He studied for a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering with Construction Management at the University of Edinburgh.

## Career

Dennis previously worked as a senior permanent way engineer at Arcadis. From 2014 to 2020, Dennis served as founding director of Permanent Rail Engineering, a sustainable transport consultancy. Dennis has taught at the National College for High Speed Rail in Doncaster and the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) at the University of Birmingham.
Dennis is a frequent commentator on railways in the British media. In 2020, Dennis started the podcast #Railnatter.
Dennis is a strong supporter of HS2 and increasing capacity on the UK railway network, and was highly critical of the Conservative government's approach and persistent watering down of the new system. He has also advocated for more metros and tram systems in British cities.
In 2023, Dennis joined SYSTRA. In November 2024, Dennis will publish his debut book How the Railways Will Fix the Future: Rediscovering the brilliance of the iron road via Penguin Random House.

## Dismissal from SYSTRA

In April 2024, Dennis was quoted in an article by The Independent about Euston railway station's inability to safely handle the volume of passengers and safety risks posed by overcrowding at the station. Upon becoming aware of the article, then Chair of Network Rail, Peter Hendy, ordered his staff to directly contact Nick Salt, CEO of SYSTRA, upon discovery that Dennis was employed by the company, and make a “request for disciplinary action...” Subsequent communications in the following weeks expressed a desire to see disciplinary action taken, and suggested the company may not receive future work from Network Rail. On 19 May, Hendy told SYSTRA CEO Nick Salt that he was unsatisfied with Salt's initial apology, and that if further action wasn't taken that he would “take it up with your head office and shareholders”. The following day, 20 May, Dennis was suspended, and four days later, on 24 May, was offered financial settlement to leave provided he not discuss the matter, which he declined.
Following a disciplinary hearing, Dennis was dismissed by SYSTRA on 8 July due to alleged "...conduct [which] has brought the name / reputation of SYSTRA Ltd and Network Rail into disrepute."
On November 6th 2024 Peter Hendy publicly appologised for his threats if Dennis was not fired. Dennis responded "Hendy is only apologising for the tone of his letter – nothing on his subsequent threats by email – to calm the anger of a supply chain he was seemingly willing to threaten and cajole. He is not apologising for the harm he has caused me or the damage he has caused to the rail industry’s public reputation."

## Selected publications

* How the Railways Will Fix the Future: Rediscovering the essential brilliance of the iron road (2024, Repeater: ISBN 9781915672483)