c2c’s Ian Colston reaches finals of Train Driver of the Year

National Express train operator c2c’s Ian Colston has reached the finals of the ‘Train Driver of the Year’ category at the Railstaff Awards 2011.

Ian has worked on the railway for 30 years; he was inspired to join ‘the rails’ by his childhood next-door neighbour, who was a train driver. Ian thereby chose to take a different career route to his brothers, who had trained as bus drivers.

Ian began his career at Thornton Junction Yard in Scotland, where he started work as a carriage cleaner, before progressing to Driver’s Assistant (or ‘Secondman’) and then Train Driver in 1985. Ian loves his life on the rails because of the varied workload he has undertaken during his career. He is also very keen on computers, and is interested in developing programs which will enhance the operational performance of the train service.

Ian is based at c2c’s Shoeburyness Depot and lives in the Southend area.

Julian Drury Managing Director of c2c said:

“We’re really proud of Ian, he is a great team player, always there for his colleagues and always doing whatever he can to help. He definitely deserves to be nominated for this award and we do wish him the very best of luck on the night.” 

The Railstaff awards take place at the ICC in Birmingham on the evening of Saturday 29th October 2011.

Ian is one of approximately 650 employees who help to make c2c a record-breaking train operator, with a train service performance which is second to none.