The High-Speed Rail Changemaker

After decades of experience with major rail programs in Europe, WSP’s David Cochrane moved to the U.S. to help advance high-speed rail projects and brings with him an important perspective on what makes them successful. It’s not just speed.

United States | Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Reading Time : 3:51 minutes

Meet David Cochrane, who is moving to Seattle from the UK to serve as transportation program director for WSP. His mission? Support delivery of one of the nation’s most promising – and toughest – transportation projects. High-speed rail (HSR).

A civil engineer with more than 35-years of experience, David has held senior leadership roles on Europe’s largest infrastructure project, the UK’s High Speed 2. The rail link between London and Birmingham has given him a deep understanding of what it takes to plan rail alternatives and manage engineering complexities, multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholder expectations.

Discover what David believes can accelerate HSR in the U.S. to benefit the communities it serves.

What inspires or motivates you in your career?

I really found my niche in high-speed rail. High-speed rail programs are big, game-changing projects that you can really get your teeth into, and they can deliver significant benefits if they’re managed properly.

High speed is not the project’s purpose.

Faster is the means to a far more valuable, corridor-wide end, which is: increased capacity, more connections to all transportation modes, decreased carbon emissions and more people moving efficiently throughout the corridor, which improves and expands access to work, home and play.

If the “four Cs” – capacity, connectivity, carbon and community – aren’t communicated, projects won’t get support.

What’s the biggest challenge in your field that working to help resolve?

At the end of the day, these projects aren’t for us. They’re for our children and our children’s children, and we shouldn’t be doing them if they’re not going to make a positive change for them.

If leaders keep the four Cs in focus, HSR can make an enormous impact, migrate the U.S. toward a lower carbon future, and spark a review of existing transportation and land use plans that can create new employment, education and housing opportunities where people want and need them.

The technical stuff will take care of itself. By focusing on the much more tangible benefits that people can ascribe to, HSR in the U.S. will pick up speed.

David Cochrane

Senior Vice President, Transportation Program Director

United States

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Meet Our Changemakers

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Improved mobility is a catalyst for growth by making communities served by integrated high-speed rail more attractive places to live, work and play.

In a recent article, David shares five key lessons he has learned from working on high-speed rail projects. Learn more.

What are some impactful projects that you’ve been a part of?

My background is in in in delivery of linear transport corridors across modes in the UK. I’m a fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers, an achievement I’m quite proud of. I began my career with National Highways delivering major projects, such as M60 Orbital motorway around Manchester. Then I moved into public transport, delivering projects like the Manchester Metrolink, and I’ve spent the last seven years supporting the delivery of High Speed 2, the UK’s largest high-speed rail project linking its biggest cities, London and Birmingham.

Why do you enjoy working at WSP?

I’m here to bring my global high-speed rail project management experience to the U.S. where interest in high-speed rail projects is growing. I've always been impressed by WSP’s technical capability, and the firm looks after people very well. Also, my new colleagues in the Pacific Northwest were very keen to use my experience and knowledge. They convinced me that there was a real role for me and I’m excited to put my experience and energy into substantive and transformative projects.

Faster is the means to a far more valuable, corridor-wide end, which is: increased capacity, more connections to all transportation modes, decreased carbon emissions, and more people moving efficiently throughout the corridor.

WSP puts people and community at the center of our purpose as an organization and in the work we delivery. How does or can the work you do positively impact the communities WSP serves?

High speed rail, when implemented properly, removes barriers to travel. It makes it seamless for people to leave the front door, jump on a metro, get to the high-speed rail hub, go to the next city, catch a tram there and get to where they’re going. Improved mobility is a catalyst for growth by making communities served by integrated high-speed rail more attractive places to live, work and play.

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The High-Speed Rail Changemaker

What inspires or motivates you in your career?

What’s the biggest challenge in your field that working to help resolve?

Related themes and tags

What are some impactful projects that you’ve been a part of?

Why do you enjoy working at WSP?

WSP puts people and community at the center of our purpose as an organization and in the work we delivery. How does or can the work you do positively impact the communities WSP serves?

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International

Americas

Africa

Asia

Europe

Middle East

Oceania

The High-Speed Rail Changemaker

What inspires or motivates you in your career?

What’s the biggest challenge in your field that working to help resolve?

Related themes and tags

Changemakers (52)

What are some impactful projects that you’ve been a part of?

Why do you enjoy working at WSP?

WSP puts people and community at the center of our purpose as an organization and in the work we delivery. How does or can the work you do positively impact the communities WSP serves?

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