A graduate of Telecom Paris Tech, Olivier Bancel joined SNCF in 1993 as a project leader in the Research division, moving on to a series of mainly operations-focused positions in network maintenance, on high-speed lines and in the Rhône-Alpes region. He later served as project leader for the Haut-Bugey line in central France, deputy director of infrastructure for the Southern region, and director of network maintenance for South-eastern France.

From 2016 to 2018, Olivier Bancel headed asset management and digital technology at Systra, SNCF’s engineering subsidiary, subsequently returning to SNCF Réseau.