Five-year-old Avanti West Coast superfan becomes rookie trainee driver
A train superfan becomes a rookie trainee driver for the day after Avanti West Coast discovered his love of Pendolinos.
- Avanti West Coast surprise young train fan after discovering his love of Pendolinos
- Five-year-old Daniel Rogerson gets unique insight into railway with train driver experience
- Pendolino superfan attends Avanti West Coast’s driving school for the day
Avanti West Coast welcomed its youngest trainee to its driving school in Crewe as part of a surprise visit for a train superfan.
Five-year-old Daniel Rogerson, from Standish, Wigan, was invited on a day out for a unique insight into the railway after Avanti West Coast discovered his passion for Pendolinos.
From a very young age, Daniel has loved trains. Aged one, he was gifted a wooden train track by his mum, Elaine, which has expanded and now fills the family’s living room.
When Daniel isn’t playing with his cherished railway track, he enjoys train spotting – a pastime that started when he could watch Avanti West Coast’s iconic Pendolinos go by from the window of his previous family home, which backed onto the West Coast Main Line. He now spends hours with his grandad seeing the trains pass through his local station.
But it’s Daniel’s love of riding on a Pendolino that is his favourite activity – with his mum regularly accompanying him on rail trips between Wigan and Lancaster, so he can experience the high-speed journeys in the comfort of a train carriage.
Daniel’s enthusiasm for trains prompted his mum to have a bed specially made in the shape of a Pendolino by local furniture painting business, Octavia Chic.
Avanti West Coast’s social media team spotted the train-shaped bed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) and offered the superfan an opportunity to become a train driver for the day.
Visiting the Talent Academy – home of the intercity operator’s Driver Training Centre - Daniel enjoyed an exclusive test drive of the simulator, as well as the chance to sit in the driver’s cab of its training Pendolino.
The Avanti West Coast team also gave him a behind-the-scenes tour of Crewe station, including the announcer’s office, and taught him how to dispatch a train. There was plenty of time for trainspotting too!
Natalie Whitehouse, Head of Learning and Development at Avanti West Coast, said: “We had a great time welcoming Daniel to our driving school for the day.
“With Daniel having so much love for trains it was brilliant to give him the chance to experience what it’s like to be in the driver’s cab with his mum. He seemed right at home and impressed us with his knowledge, as well as eagerness to learn!”
Daniel’s mum, Elaine Rogerson, said: “Daniel loves to watch trains – whether it’s from the nearby train bridge or on YouTube. So, being given the opportunity to become a rookie train driver was amazing! It’s an experience we’ll never forget! After his time at Avanti West Coast’s driving school, I couldn’t be more certain he’s destined to be a train driver.”
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Main image: Daniel Rogerson stands in front of his favourite train - an Avanti West Coast Pendolino.
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.
We’re on a mission to revolutionise train travel. Our refurbed Pendolinos have returned to the rails with a £117m investment that’s delivering the best in class comfort. Known as the UK’s hardest working fleet, the programme is transforming all 56 of these iconic trains boasting better seats, improved lighting, new interior carpets, customer-friendly passenger information screens, additional luggage space, power points at every seat and refurbished toilets.
Our new Evero fleet was introduced in June 2024 and will replace our Voyagers. Built by Hitachi, the 23-strong fleet, consisting of 10 seven-carriage electric trains and 13 five-carriage bi-modes, will serve routes from London to the Midlands, Chester, North Wales and the North West, leading to a substantial cut in carbon emissions with an increase in seats, and offering improved comfort. Quieter and roomier, with more reliable Wi-Fi, wireless charging for electrical devices and a real-time customer information system, these new trains are the result of a £350m investment in sustainable travel.
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