Dr. John Prideaux joined British Rail as an Operational Research Trainee in 1965. He went on to work as Area Manager at Newton Abbott and in planning roles at the British Railways Board Headquarters. In 1980 he was appointed as Divisional Manager at Birmingham, and between 1986 and 1991 was the Director of the InterCity passenger sector. In 1992 he became the Director of New Ventures, staying until 1993. He was appointed as the Chairman of Angel Trains in 1995, serving in this capacity until 2002.