Avanti West Coast colleagues mark a combined milestone of over 200 years of service
Two dozen Birmingham New Street workers are celebrating their 10-year employment anniversaries this month.
- Avanti West Coast is celebrating the anniversaries of 24 colleagues who work at Birmingham New Street
- They joined the intercity operator 10 years ago when the station was opened after £750m redevelopment
- Their service totals over two centuries of work between them at the station
Two dozen Avanti West Coast railway workers are marking a unique combined milestone after notching over 200 years of service between them at Birmingham New Street.
This month, 24 Avanti West Coast colleagues are celebrating their 10-year employment anniversaries at the flagship West Midlands rail hub.
The anniversaries are shared with the Network Rail managed station itself, as it is 10 years today (19 November) since the official opening by Queen Elizabeth II after the completion of a £750 million redevelopment.
With the station being expanded as part of the work in 2015, the intercity operator at the time had to recruit additional staff to fill roles on eight gate lines as well as in the ticket office and the First Class lounge.
Throughout the 10 years, colleagues have witnessed some iconic moments happen at Birmingham New Street, including the re-homing of the iconic figure from the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Ozzy the Bull, who was named after the legendary Black Sabbath frontman and local legend, Ozzy Osbourne.
The station was also transformed into a film set for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and was one of the first stations to host Channel 4's music competition The Piano.
Anne Grant, Birmingham New Street Station Manager at Avanti West Coast said: “I am extremely delighted to be celebrating the work anniversaries of so many colleagues here at Birmingham New Street this month. The fact that they have been with us for a decade is a testament to the strong team ethos that we have built here at the station.
“In the last 10 years the station has become a focal point for the city and the region, and I feel that our staff have had a role to play in making that happen. Every day they turn up with a smile on their faces and are committed as ever to continue delivering the best service for our customers.”
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List of Avanti West Coast colleagues celebrating their 10-year employment anniversaries with the intercity operator at Birmingham New Street station:
Abe Badri – Welcome Host
Adela Hamelton – Customer Service Assistant
Amber Cooper – Welcome Host
Amreek Singh – Welcome Host
Amriek Dilvarh – Welcome Host
Brian Grice – Team Leader (Gateline)
Daisy Birtles – Welcome Host
Hayley Holloway – Welcome Host
Imran Abdullah – Welcome Host
John McVeigh – Welcome Host
John Miller – Welcome Host
Jonathan Purshouse – Team Leader (Gateline)
Jordan Walters – Customer Services Assistant
Liam Haughey – Welcome Host
Mark Gardner – Team Leader (Gateline)
Mark Guy – Customer Service Assistant
Nigel Bartlett – Welcome Host
Paul Meenan – Welcome Host
Rachel Freeman – Revenue Protection Inspector
Richard Jesson – Welcome Host
Sandra Prospere – Welcome Host
Steven Moule – Customer Service Assistant
Stuart Robertson – Welcome Host
Tillie Phillips – Customer Service Assistant
About Avanti West Coast
Avanti West Coast, operator of intercity rail services on the West Coast Main Line, is a joint venture between FirstGroup and Trenitalia, delivering a cleaner, greener railway that drives the West Coast forward. Avanti West Coast serves key UK cities, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow as well as North Wales.
We’re on a mission to be the transport of choice – connecting customers and communities along the West Coast. Our award-winning Pendolino refurbishment programme transformed the UK’s hardest working fleet with all 56 of the iconic trains providing best-in-class comfort.
Our Evero fleet, which offers more seats, improved comfort, and a substantial cut to carbon emissions, was introduced in June 2024 and is the result of a £350m investment in sustainable travel. Built by Hitachi, the 23-strong fleet, consisting of 10 seven-carriage electric trains and 13 five-carriage bi-modes, serves routes from London to the Midlands, Chester, North Wales and the North West.
We want to make a positive difference to the people and places we serve – helping to drive economic growth, green travel, and break down barriers. Our efforts to contribute to society and enable people to benefit from the opportunities rail offers through purpose-led initiatives including Feel Good Field Trips and award-winning female driver recruitment campaign has seen us create over £1billion in social value impact.
We’re tackling climate change wherever we can, from reducing energy and water use to training drivers in eco-driving techniques and sourcing food and drink from local suppliers. Our goal is to be net zero carbon by 2031. We’re on track.
For the latest news, visit the Avanti West Coast Media Centre: https://newsdesk.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/
Press Office: 0845 000 3333