Anthony Richard Fearn, known as Dick Fearn, took part in the Traffic Student scheme, studying at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, between 1973-1977 before becoming Station Manager at Doncaster on the Leeds Division in 1979. In 1984 he moved to the British Railways Board Headquarters,and was then appointed as Metals Business Resources Manager in York in 1986. He undertook a course at Manchester Business School in 1987 and in 1990 became the Network Manager on the Thames and Chiltern division until 1993. He worked for the Thames & Chiltern Train Operating Company between 1991 to 1994, before moving to South Eastern/Connex South Eastern until 1998. He became a Railtrack Zone Director in 1998, serving in this capacity until 2004. He then went to become the Chief Executive Officer, Iarnród Éireann and Independent Chair of Western Route Supervisory Board for Network Rail.