Trish Ashton

Former Keele University student Trish Ashton is helping keep millions of people moving across London every day through her senior leadership role at Transport for London (TfL).  

As Director of Rail, Trish is responsible for some of the capital’s busiest and most recognisable transport services, including the Elizabeth Line, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and London’s tram network. 

With a career spanning 25 years at TfL, Trish has built a reputation as a collaborative and people-focused leader, overseeing operations that connect communities, support businesses, and help millions of passengers travel safely and efficiently across the capital. Her journey from Keele student to one of the transport industry’s senior leaders reflects a career shaped by adaptability, strong relationships, and a passion for public service. 

After graduating from Keele in 2001 with a degree in Geography and Politics, Trish began her career at Transport for London on a customer service graduate scheme with London Underground. More than two decades later, she has been in her current role since October 2025. 

Reflecting on the scale of the operation she now oversees, Trish said: “We are responsible for a huge percentage of the daily rail journeys in the UK across those four modes of transport – the Elizabeth Line, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway and Trams.  

“We carry about 820,000 people on the Elizabeth line daily alone, so it’s certainly a challenging role, but one that I really enjoy and thrive on, and I am very lucky to have an amazing, diverse and capable team. 

“One of the things I love about my job is that there’s always something happening, and every day is different. I’ll often go in on Monday planning to do certain things and I might only get half of them done, because other things crop up. It is a very immediate job, but that's a part I love about it and what keeps me wanting to get up in the morning and come to work.” 

Passengers onboard an Elizabeth Line London Underground Train. The network is overseen by Keele alumnus Trish Ashton.

Reflecting on her time at Keele, Trish credits the University’s welcoming campus environment and interdisciplinary approach with helping shape her leadership style. 

She said: “Having grown up in a village near to Bristol, arriving at Keele straight away felt like home to me. It was such a gorgeous campus with a great vibe and friendly people, and that made it a seamless transition.

“Throughout my career, people have always been at the heart of what I do, and that stems from the campus environment at Keele. In transport, our purpose is ultimately about helping people - getting them from A to B, whether that’s for work, caring responsibilities, or leisure. 

“My time at Keele really shaped that perspective. Studying a joint honours degree meant constantly engaging with different groups of people, and the requirement to take a subsidiary subject outside my main discipline gave me a valuable breadth of experience. That mindset of exploring different areas continued when I joined a graduate scheme and has stayed with me throughout my 25 years at TfL, where I’ve regularly moved between roles rather than staying in one position for too long. 

“What has stayed with me most from the university experience was the welcoming campus environment and the way you were always crossing paths with people. It taught me the importance of building relationships, treating people well, and valuing connections - lessons that have proved invaluable in my career. In the transport industry especially, you often meet the same people repeatedly throughout your working life, and that sense of community and respect has been something I’ve carried with me ever since my time at Keele.” 

Trish’s career at TfL has seen her play a key role during some of the capital’s most significant moments, including serving as Gold Command officer for the coronation of King Charles III in 2023 and witnessing first-hand how London came together in the immediate aftermath of the 7/7 terrorist attacks. 

Trish served as Gold Command officer for the coronation of King Charles III in 2023 

She is currently working on major transport projects aimed at improving connectivity and supporting growth across the capital, including proposals to extend the DLR to Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead, increase services on the London Overground and add additional trains to the Elizabeth Line. 

And asked what advice she would give to today’s students, Trish reflected on her own experience of going through clearing and how it ultimately led her to a positive outcome. 

“It can be a stressful time when you receive your exam results, especially if you don’t get the grades you were hoping for,” she said. 

“That happened to me, but hopefully my story gives people in a similar position the confidence to know they can still go on to have a great university experience and a successful career. At the time, it can feel like everything has gone wrong, but things can work out positively in the end. 

“When you graduate, it is just the next step in your journey - you don’t need to have your entire career mapped out from that moment. I think it’s important to discover what you enjoy, what motivates you and where your passions lie. There are so many careers where you can combine your interests with your work, and I think that ultimately helps you to be more successful, more driven and happier in what you do.”