Train driver Phil Read made his final station stop today (Friday 27 October), and is now retiring after more than 37 years.
Phil joined CrossCountry as a train driver in July 1998. He then progressed through the company’s driving grades, becoming a Mentor Driver, a Driver Instructor, and a Train Driver Trainer.
On the last day of his career, Phil joined his son, Andy, who is also a CrossCountry train driver, having been trained by his dad! Together, they took the train on a return trip from Derby to Bristol, passing their home in Tamworth en route.
On his retirement, CrossCountry’s Train Driver Trainer Phil Read said: “The rail industry has given me a fulfilling and stable career for almost 40 years, and it’s been so rewarding to pass on the skills I’ve learned to a new generation of drivers – including my own son!
“For anybody looking for a worthwhile and wide-ranging job where no two days are the same, I couldn’t recommend the railway enough – even 37 years on.”
In an impressive feat, Phil has driven trains over every single part of the CrossCountry network, from Aberdeen to Penzance, Cambridge to Cardiff – around 1,300 miles of the British rail network.
Chris Light, CrossCountry’s Head of Safety, Security and Environment, said: “On behalf of the rail industry, I want to thank Phil for the time and dedication he’s given to his career, and all the very best for the future. It’s a privilege to wish him well at the end of such a long and successful career.
“People like Phil prove that even in 2023, the rail industry can still provide a ‘job for life’ for people who are willing to work hard – and the great news is, applications are almost always open!”Find out more about careers in the rail industry at www.nationalrail.co.uk/careers/
Responses
Surprised he turned up for his last shift as they seem to be on strike most days (greed).
I’ve known Phil and had the pleasure of working with him since I came to CrossCountry as a fellow driver in 1999. Wishing him all the very best in his retirement and a proud moment too, handing the reins over to his son Andy! End of an era and the beginning of a new, congratulations to both of you!
All the best in your retirement Phil you deserve it
Congratulations Phill well done 👍 enjoy your well deserved retirement keep busy and well 😁
Well done mate, I wish you a long and happy retirement.
Keep yourself busy
They paint a very Rosey picture of railway life a driver on Britain’s privatised railways where the comfort of passengers is less important and put in money in the shareholders pockets as a ex British railways driver . I started as a cleaner and progressed through the line of promotion unlike the drivers of today who just start as a driver with no experience whatsoever when privatise nation took over in the 90s it was a lot of experienced drivers who just took the redundancy but they don’t tell you that I was one please don’t believe all you read in these articles there are a lot of porkies being told.