Together Weekly - 20.06.24

TOGETHER

THURSDAY 20 JUNE 2024

SHEFFIELD DRIVER IAN CELEBRATES FIVE DECADES WORKING ON THE RAILWAY

Huge congratulations to Sheffield driver Ian Osborne, who is celebrating 50 years of railway service.

Originally from Bedford, Ian started working on the railway aged 16 in February 1974 after leaving school.

Driving trains is a job that Ian always wanted to do and in fact, he’s loved it so much that it’s the only job he’s ever had. Ian began his career for British Rail as a Traction Trainee and then was promoted to secondman (assistant driver) after completing a three-month course in London. After moving to Sheffield in 1976, Ian continued his driver training and passed out as a driver in 1980.

Ian said: “I knew from an early age that I wanted to drive trains. It is a pleasure to do this job, I absolutely love it. I enjoy working with everyone, it feels like one big family. That’s what has kept me working on the railway all this time - and I don’t even mind the early shifts!”

For half a century, Ian has driven trains up and down the country and across many routes. One of his career highlights was driving the Master Cutler express passenger train from Sheffield down to London St Pancras, which Ian said “was an absolute privilege to drive.”

Having worked at TPE since the company was founded in 2004, Ian remembers the first train he drove for the business: “The first train I drove for TPE was the Sheffield to Cleethorpes train, which then went on to Manchester Airport. It was a Class 185 which is still my favourite train to drive. They are comfortable, reliable and you get marvellous views from the driver's cab. They’re a real pleasure to drive.”

To celebrate the impressive milestone, Ian was presented with a special certificate from Chris Jackson,

Managing Director, as a thank you for all his hard work and commitment to the railway over the years.

Sheffield Driver Manager, Andy McLeod presented the certificate to Ian, and said: “It was a great pleasure to present Ian with the certificate, Ian is a true gentleman and an integral member of the team.”

Congratulations, Ian!

Sheffield Driver Manager, Andy McLeod (right) presents Ian (left) with a special award to mark 50 years of railway service.

SUSTAINABILITY TEAM VISIT LOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOL TO RAISE AWARENESS OF BIODIVERSITY

Following our biodiversity improvement works at Thirsk station, our Sustainability team recently spent the afternoon at a local school in the area, raising awareness of the importance of pollinators.

During the session, pupils at Alanbrooke Academy learnt all about our pollinators in the UK, what they can do to help them and what TPE is doing to enhance biodiversity at our stations. The pupils also made bug hotels which are to be installed at Thirsk Station and within their school grounds, providing habitat for various local pollinator species.

The bug hotels were made from reused timber by Chopsticks, a local charity organisation based in Northallerton that supports adults with disabilities to develop new skills in a workshop environment.

TEAM TRU PULLS TOGETHER TO INFORM THOUSANDS OF MAJOR LINE UPGRADES

Over the past two weeks, Team TRU has gone the extra mile to ensure customers are well-informed about the upcoming major upgrade works on the line between Huddersfield, Dewsbury, and Leeds.

In a coordinated effort, Customer Delivery Managers hopped on and off affected services to make sure the right information went to the right customers. Meanwhile, the TRU Communications team, alongside dedicated management volunteers, spent four nights distributing leaflets at four different stations. In total, 10,000 leaflets were handed out to customers in less than two weeks.

The engineering works start on Monday 24 June, and will impact services that run through Dewsbury on weekdays until Friday 19 July. The engineering work colleague brief for this is available to read on The Loop.

Sourcing surplus timber and timber waste from local businesses, Chopsticks reuses the timber in their workshop, and we’re pleased to support this fantastic local community organisation on our network.

The school pupils thoroughly enjoyed the session and were so engaged throughout, with some lovely feedback from class teacher Miss Wilkinson: “Thank you so much for your visit yesterday, the children thoroughly enjoyed it and have been talking about how great it was all day.”

Biodiversity improvements and community engagement efforts such as this all align with our TPE Sustainability Strategy and helps us meet both our and the wider railway industry’s sustainability goals.

Well done, team Sustainability!

Steve Gilder, Lead Sustainability Manager, with Tracey Taylor from Chopsticks.

Dan Fox and Steve Gilder (far right) with pupils from Alanbrooke Academy

Volunteers handed out leaflets to customers at different stations.

HARRY COMPLETES DRIVER

Congratulations to newly qualified Liverpool driver, Harry Tedder (left) pictured with Andy Tuppen, Operations Development Manager, just before he set off on his maiden voyage from Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Oxford Road on the 12:19 service on Wednesday 12 June.

Harry worked in hospitality and customer service roles before joining the railway with TPE in 2019 as a graduate. Harry's focus was always wanting to work in an operational role so eventually became a Duty Dispatch Manager at Manchester Piccadilly. In 2021, Harry became a trainee driver for TPE. As a child, Harry wanted to be a train driver but at the time, he assumed it wasn't a realistic opportunity. After joining the railway and chatting to other train drivers, Harry realised that it was something he could pursue here at TPE after all. Well done, Harry!

LATEST GIGEX TRAIN IS GETAWAY CAR FOR SWIFTIES LEAVING THE ERAS TOUR

Last Saturday (15 June) saw swifties hop aboard our special GigEx train following a glittering evening at the Eras Tour in Liverpool.

Named ‘The Bolter’ after one of the tracks on Taylor’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department, and a nod to Huddersfield’s station cat, Bolt, the extra service left Liverpool Lime Street at 23:32 bound for Manchester Piccadilly.

Part of a suite of additional services that TPE is running to help keep customers on the move following gigs, The Bolter ensured fans travelled home in Style.

A huge thank you to Keiron Riley and Jamie Spencer, as well as colleagues in Train Planning, Resource and Control who all helped to make ‘The Bolter’ happen - a brilliant example of colleagues pulling together!

This Pride Season we’re helping our partner The Proud Trust on its mission to raise £78,000 for 1,500 hours of support for young people.

We’ve got 200 of our Unity Train pin badges available, for a suggested donation fee of £2.50, which you can make directly to The Proud Trust

To get your hands on a badge and show your support for the LGBT+ youth charity, please contact Harriet.Harbidge@tpexpress.co.uk

Harry (left) with Andy (right) just before he set off on his maiden voyage from Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Oxford Road on the 12:19 service on Wednesday 12 June

‘The Bolter’ left Liverpool Lime Street at 23:32 bound for Manchester Piccadilly

Colleagues Jamie Spencer (left) and Keiron Riley (right)