Julie Mills BA MSc MCILT
I am a project director and independent transport consultant, with a background as professional rail planner and transport economist. My experience over the last 25 years brings high level consulting expertise on major investment projects and specialist knowledge of the rail industry and high-speed rail. I have a strong commercial awareness combined with public sector client-side experience.

My transport planning consultancy experience encompasses my time with Atkins consultants (1992 – 2003) and with Mills Consultants, my own consultancy company (since 2006). Much of my work has focused on the UK railway sector, although I have also worked overseas in Eastern Europe and South-East Asia. As a specialist in high-speed rail, I was also a Director of Greengauge 21.

My experience in the public sector has been invaluable in understanding what public sector clients really need from consultants and in creating links across the rail industry. At the Strategic Rail Authority (2003 – 2005) I established and led the SRA’s Regional Planning team, helping to ensure the railway’s plans reflected wider spatial and economic plans. More recently I have worked for the Department for Transport and Rail North letting and managing rail franchise contracts.

My qualifications:
  • MSc (Distinction) in Transport Planning & Management, University of Westminster
  • BA Economics, University of Durham
  • Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

Rail franchising

I have provided advisory services to the UK Department for Transport and Transport Scotland on rail franchise procurement and management.

​This has included a two-year commission at DfT as project director for the TransPennine Express franchise competition. A successful project close saw the commitment of massive benefits to passengers in the north of England including new fleets of trains and new services, alongside a substantially improved return for the taxpayer.

High speed rail

As Director of Greengauge 21, I managed a research programme into high speed rail in the UK and successfully lobbied for HS2. This involved the development of the only national strategy for a UK HSR network, supported by stakeholders across the country.

Previously, at Atkins in 2002, I project managed the first major feasibility​ study into a north-south high speed line in Britain.​

Transport studies

I have carried out investment studies in the bus sector, rail, light rail and maritime in Sri Lanka, Estonia, Poland, and Thailand/Laos, funded by the EU and the World Bank.

​At the Strategic Rail Authority I led the production of Regional Planning Assessments – 20-year plans for the future development of the rail network in the English regions, Scotland and Wales, in the context of anticipated demographic, economic and spatial change.