Rob Bullock interviewed by Victor Cai

Interview with Rob Bullock recorded by Victor Cai on 18 October 2025, at the Dana Research Centre, Science Museum, London. Duration: 1 hour 19 minutes 25 seconds. [Start of interview, track 01] Family background, childhood, education at University of Nottingham studying Geography with Business, interest in human geography, environmental sustainability and the built environment; when he knew he was gay, when he accepted it; university, coming out, diversity at university compared to home. [00:09:30] Joined Network Rail (NR) graduate scheme in 2010, attracted by infrastructure, environmental work and rail investment including CrossRail, London Bridge and King’s Cross redevelopment; completed funded Project Management Master’s Degree at University College London (UCL), and asked at interview about working for NR as a gay man. [00:16:00] diversity and inclusion at NR, how it used to be, how it felt to him, how it has changed; worked on Great Western Railway (GWR) Electrification as Project Management Assistant, including branch lines, Welsh Valley Lines and feasibility studies. [00:24:40] His role as Executive Assistant to the Director of the Region, supporting team management, role of Personal Assistant; coming out during interview for the role, learnt from senior colleagues; background, role and responsibilities of the Director, their work relationship, how RB championed LGBTQIA+ inclusion. [00:30:40] Volunteered during the 2012 London Olympics at Charing Cross Station; after hearing a homophobic slur about people visiting Heaven nightclub, called out the colleague involved, prompting him to explore forming an LGBTQIA+ network at NR and become more vocal about workplace inclusion. [00:36:20] Moved to Stonewall as Project Manager for three years, running LGBTQIA+ inclusion events and conferences and maintaining links with railway companies through the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme; reflects on equal marriage, transgender inclusion, winning hearts and minds, and rising transphobia and homophobia. [00:41:20] Grew Stonewall’s workplace conference and engagement by 50%, bringing public and private sector organisations together to learn about inclusion; reflects on behind-the-scenes inclusive influencing with senior leaders and politicians, toxic debates about transgender rights, and meeting people where they are to take them on a journey. [00:47:50] Joined Department for Transport (DfT) in 2018 as Project Management Specialist on High Speed 2 (HS2), bringing project management expertise to DfT, helping oversee HS2 Limited and considering national benefits, governance, political sensitivity and regeneration; discusses scope reductions under Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak and Rail's needs more investment. [00:58:50] Reflects on demoralising HS2 reductions, impartial advice to governments, reduced confidence in large projects, need for realistic costs and long-term rail strategy, and value of greater diversity of thought in NR and the Civil Service. [end of track 01] [Track 02] Discusses value of non-STEM backgrounds alongside technical expertise; after six years at DfT moved to Science Museum Group (SMG) to set up a project management office for construction projects, linking back to rail through the National Railway Museum (NRM). [00:06:30] Describes Stonewall as the biggest change to his personal life, helping him embrace the LGBTQIA+ community, develop a gay social circle in London and build lasting friendships. [00:09:10] Concerns about current society going backwards with regard to LGBTQIA+ community, book bans and changes in laws in the USA, rise of far-right in the UK, challenges for politically neutral LGBTQIA+ organisations to potentially work with far-right; hopes LGBTQIA+ communities will respond to adversity and that Stonewall or other organisations will “lead the charge” for LGBTQIA+ equality. [end of interview]

This interview was made as part of People Pride and Progress (PPP) project. The project was initiated in 2023 to record the stories and memories of the LGBTQIA+ community in a new oral history archive over two years. It aimed to connect past, present and future through intergenerational interviews, offering opportunities for colleagues across all parts of the rail industry to connect, reflect on and learn from each other’s lived experiences while creating an archive of oral history interviews.