Andy Doherty having retired from Network Rail in Oct 2020 and 45 years in the railway industry, has taken on the role of CTO for the GCRE, setting its vision as unique and leading rail innovation and testing centre, and its journey to be a Net Zero energy user. Andy has set a technology strategy that starts with BIM data and leads through to an immersive Digital Twin technology that enables the GCRE to safely operate, manage testing, simulation, and enable ‘hard ware in the loop’ dynamic testing, that will maximise the unique capabilities of the GCRE. Andy has had a leading role in shaping the strategy and work plan for the ERJs System Pillar. This work has set out the Future European Railway System Architecture, separately physical and control layers, enabling modularisation, such that it informs and structures the System Pillar work. He was CTO for Network Rail leading Engineering interaction with the UK railway industry and within the European railway sphere. Andy was chair of the UK Vehicle Track System Interface Committee for 16 years, in leading this work he resolved the problem of RCF in the UK. Andy led the research into RCF its characterisation, new metallurgies, new rail management processes, creating the UK VTAC (variable access charge) and the development of ‘inerter’ type radial arm bushes to reduce track damage and increase wheel life. Andy was elected in the Royal Academy of Engineering as a result of this work. Andy chaired the cross industry Technical Strategy Leadership Group for 12 years.Andy has been chair of a number of European Associations and Committees; including ERRAC (European Rail Research Advisory Group) and with the ERA (European Railway Agency) as chair of the Group of Representative Bodies in Interoperability and Standardisation issues. Andy is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers, he is an Electrical Systems Engineer, with expertise in; the railway system, rolling stock design, the mechanical interface between the train and track, transmission based signalling systems such ETCS and electro magnetic compatibility. Andy is a Visiting Professor at Southampton and Cranfield (and in the past) Newcastle Universities.Previously Andy was the chair of the Network Rail Acceptance Panel for some 9 years, setting policy and approval of all Systems and Products used by Network Rail, and has held a number of senior roles in London Underground, including; Project Director and Engineer for the upgrade of the Central and Northern Lines and the conversion of the Underground to Driver Only Operation project.