Peter Trewin was born in 1946. He became a Graduate Entrant Management Trainee on British Rail: London Midland Region between 1968 and 1970 and then served as Commercial Officer in Blackburn from 1969 to 1971, after which he went on secondment to the London Midland Region General Manager’s Office until 1973. He moved to be the Freight Sales Manager in Inverness in 1973, staying in Scotland until 1977 when he joined the Public Affairs Department, British Railways Headquarters, serving there for around 10 years until 1987. He was then appointed the Secretary of the British Railways Board, serving in this capacity from 1987 to 2013. In 2001 he became the Secretary of the Board of British Railways Residuary, working in this role until 2013. From 2001 to 2006 he also served as Secretary to the Board of the Strategic Rail Authority.