Mr Howard Smith | Operations Director
Crossrail

Howard studied economics at LSE before managing train operations and stations in South and West London.  In the 1990’s he worked on Channel Tunnel rail freight services, establishing joint ventures with Belgian and Swiss public and private sector partners.  He became Managing Director of one of these joint ventures, operating rail freight services in France, Spain and Italy. 
 
In 1998 Howard joined the Docklands Light Railway and lead the City Airport and Woolwich Arsenal Extensions, as well as planning the 3 Car capacity upgrade.
 
Howard moved to London Rail as Chief Operating Officer at the end of 2004 where he has had responsibility for the successful delivery of a £3billion investment programme which created London Overground, expanded and upgraded the DLR and Tramlink, as well as planning Crossrail operations.
 
Overground is currently Britain’s best performing operator and passenger numbers have risen 300% since TfL took over in 2007. Together with the East London Line Project, DLR and trams it has have won numerous awards. Passenger journeys on London Rail now exceed 250m per annum.
 
Howard was heavily involved in the planning and delivery of the London 2012 Games and Paralympics when DLR and Overground delivered record levels of performance whilst moving up to twice the regular number of passengers.   
 
Howard has recently started a new role as Operations Director for Crossrail.
He will oversee the Crossrail project and train operating company to ensure that it delivers a truly world class customer experience, founded on superb infrastructure and new levels of operational excellence.