Sunday 20 April - Travelling this Easter Sunday? Please visit our Travel Information page for more information about our services - more information
Friday 27 October 2023
CrossCountry Driver Trainer Phil Read with his son, driver Andy Read
It’s the end of an era for train driver Phil Read who made his final station stop today (Friday 27 October), retiring after more than 37 years of driving trains.
Phil joined CrossCountry as a train driver in July 1998 and worked his way through the ranks, becoming a Mentor Driver, a Driver Instructor and finally a Train Driver Trainer.
On the last day of a career spanning five decades, Phil joined his son, Andy, in the driving cab on a return trip from Derby to Bristol – coincidentally passing their own home in Tamworth on the way.
It was this most recent role where he delivered driver training for his son, Andy, who has now stepped behind the controls as a train driver himself.
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/
CrossCountry Press Office: [email protected]
About CrossCountry
CrossCountry is a long-distance passenger train operator, with a network stretching from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Stansted to Cardiff and calling at over 100 stations. Based in Birmingham, CrossCountry connects seven of Britain’s 10 largest cities and delivers 240 services every weekday, equating to over 42 million passenger journeys each year.
For further information on CrossCountry services, visit crosscountrytrains.co.uk or visit one of our social media platforms via X @crosscountryuk or Facebook at facebook.com/crosscountrytrains
Long-distance train operator CrossCountry has announced changes to timetables from May 2025, improving service reliability and reducing overcrowding on the CrossCountry network.
Read More
Train operator CrossCountry has awarded almost £17,000 to social enterprise Social Bite’s Jobs First programme in Edinburgh.
Read More
Train operator CrossCountry has welcomed the arrival of the first train to go through its multi-million pound fleet refurbishment programme.
Read More
