Dream comes true for commuter - 3 March 2004

19 June 2006

Dream comes true, for commuter and local resident Bill Childs will realise his dream of riding in the drivers cab of an electrostar train, thanks to c2c.

Bill Childs, who retires from his London - based job on 5 March this year, has been a regular commuter on c2c for 50 years and during that time has seen many changes to his rail service. He retires after enjoying the results of c2cs £450 million investment in the route that has seen the introduction of a brand new fleet of state of the art commuter trains on his route, as well as modern signalling and station refurbishment.

As he approached his retirement, Bill was determined to fulfil a number of dreams and has already made trips by helicopter, glider, and hot air balloon, and has been scuba diving. Next on his list was to realise his schoolboy ambition of riding with the driver at the front of a c2c train.

As a result on Friday 5 March he will join the driver of the 1020 Shoeburyness to Fenchurch Street service on his last journey to work.

Route Director Leila Frances said: " Fifty years of employment with the same company is a real achievement. Last year we celebrated here at c2c two of our drivers retiring after 50 years with us, but such celebrations are few and far between these days.

"Not only has Bill worked for the same company for 50 years, he has also been a regular passenger on c2c and its predecessors for 50 years. When we heard that, after sitting "behind" the driver for all these years, he wanted to make his last journey to work with the driver, we were happy to make the special arrangements to make this dream come true.

"All of us at c2c wish Bill a long, happy and well-deserved retirement."