Chris Bolt

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Chris Bolt is a British economist and, since July 5, 2004, non-executive chairman of the Office of Rail Regulation, the national economic and safety regulatory authority for Britain's railways, and (separately) the arbiter for the London Underground public-private partnership.

[edit] Civil service background

An economist by training, Bolt joined the civil service in 1975 and worked as an economist in a number of departments, including HM Treasury and the Home Office. From 1988 to 1989, he was part of the Department of the Environment team responsible for privatising the water industry and establishing its initial regulatory regime. He then joined the Office of Water Services, the independent regulator for Britain's water industry, as head of economic regulation.

[edit] Railways

In 1994, Bolt moved to the Office of the Rail Regulator to take up appointment as chief economist. After Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott MP decided not to reappoint John Swift QC as Rail Regulator, Bolt was given a seven-month contract as Rail Regulator pending Prescott's decision on the full-term appointment of Tom Winsor from July 5 1999.

In July 1999, Bolt left the Office of the Rail Regulator and joined Transco plc, the company which owns and operates the majority of Great Britain’s gas transportation system, as regulation and corporate affairs director. He was appointed to a new role of group director, regulation and public policy in Transco’s parent company, Lattice Group plc, in November 2001. He left Lattice in October 2002 on completion of its merger with National Grid Group plc.

From July 5, 2004, Bolt became chairman of the Office of Rail Regulation.

[edit] London Underground arbiter

In December 2002 Bolt was appointed Arbiter for the public-private partnership for the London Underground.

The role of PPP Arbiter was established by the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (GLA Act). The Secretary of State for Transport appointed Chris Bolt as the first PPP Arbiter for a four year term from 31 December 2002, the date of commencement of the Tube Lines contract. This term was extended on 18 May 2006 for a further four years to December 2010.