Christopher Richard Leah was born in 1947 and it is thought that he joined the British Rail Studentship Scheme in 1966. He undertook the Staff Entrant Traffic Management Trainee scheme on British Rail: London Midland Region from 1970-1972. He was gained a Certificate and Diploma in Transport Studies from the University of London. He has served as Assistant Area Manager at Guide Bridge, Assistant Area Manager, Willesden, located at Kensington Olympia. He was appointed to be Personal Assistant to David Bowick, the Vice Chairman of British Railways Board. He has also been a Station Cleaning Manager, a Divisional Freight Officer at Birmingham and a Resource Manager for the Iron, Steel and Motor Vehicles sector. He has worked as Passenger Business Manager, ScotRail, before becoming Provincial Manager, Birmingham and then Director North West. After privatisation he served as Safety & Operations, Director at Railtrack before becoming Safety & Compliance Director at Network Rail.