c2c honours memory of route champion

C2c is naming a train honour in of one of the route's most ardent champions.

On Friday 30 January local MP Sir Teddy Taylor will join c2c staff and friends and relatives to name one of the new Electrostars Barry Flaxman .

For almost 50 years Barry campaigned for passenger improvements initially from within the Southend Rail Travellers Association, then with the Transport Users Consultative Committee for Eastern England and latterly with the Central Transport Consultative Committee at national level. Indeed he was but a 19 year-old student when he first became involved with what was then LTS and barely 23 when in 1949 he fought for passenger improvements with the then mighty chief executive of British rail& .and won.

His timetabling knowledge was the driving force behind the electrification scheme benefits of the early 1960's that brought such a step change in journey time and frequency.

However it was in 1993 that Barry finally retired from advocating passenger's rights and joined the LTS to advise on timetabling and lay the foundations for what we enjoy today.

Sadly Barry passed away Friday June 12th 1998 .

Route Director Leila Frances said of the event: I only joined c2c at the beginning of December last year and I did not know Barry. In my short time here, however, I have learned enough about him to know that he played an important part in the development of LTS from the so-called "misery line" to what it is today. I am sure that he would be thrilled to know that old friends and acquaintances, as well as newcomers such as myself, have gathered to pay tribute to his work and demonstrate this tangibly by naming a train after him.

Former MD of LTS, Ken Bird, who worked with Barry, said It was very sad that Barry left us before the realisation of his dream. Our great comfort is that we can enjoy his legacy. Barry had on that very day seen the future of travel on c2c. He had seen the first new train ever to be built for his railway and from this day one of these trains will bear his name.