Roger Ford

Roger Ford
In the cab of class 800002 at North Pole Train Maintenance Centre, 2015
Born	United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Occupation	Railway journalist
Years active	1976-present
Known for	Modern Railways

Roger Ford is a British journalist specialising in rail transport. He is Industry and Technology Editor of the monthly trade and technical magazine Modern Railways, where he is probably best known for his authoritative column Informed Sources, noted for its in-depth analysis of railway technical, commercial and policy issues. He is also founding editor of Rail Business Intelligence.

Ford trained as a mechanical engineer with English Electric at Rugby, specialising in prime movers, and on qualification joined the head office of the company’s Traction Division. While at English Electric Traction he was seconded to the Maintenance Division, spending time at Finsbury Park and Stratford locomotive depots.

He subsequently pursued a career in industrial publicity management, with British Standards, Chloride and Fairey, before deciding to become a full-time writer in 1976, specialising in railways. In the 1980s he also edited the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Railway Division's quarterly technical journal Railway Engineer and the Railway Industry Association's Railpower magazine, promoting the UK rail industry abroad.

With the start of privatisation of British Rail in 1993 Ford began a parallel career as an independent consultant, with clients including the former Office of Passenger Rail Franchising and a number of leading banks and leasing organisations. He has also presented technical and commercial papers to a wide range of learned societies and industry conferences.