AFTER 50 YEARS OF SERVICE JOHN IS STILL ON BOARD

Monday 11 Sep 2006

AFTER 50 YEARS OF SERVICE JOHN IS STILL ON BOARD

Region & Route:: | Wales & Western: Wales & Borders; | Wales & Western: Western; | Wales & Western

Railway veteran John Groves has been congratulated by rail professionals, Network Rail colleagues and friends for his invaluable contribution to the rail industry during a celebration to mark 50 years of his dedicated service. And what’s more - John has no plans to retire in the near future. John, a huge Cardiff City fan, was presented with an award during the celebrations in appreciation of his contribution to railway signalling and telecoms engineering. He was also presented with something possibly even closer to his heart … a signed Cardiff City football shirt. Robbie Burns, Network Rail’s Western Route Director, who presented the award to John said: “On behalf of Network Rail and the travelling public whom John has served for half a century, I would like to thank John for his loyal service.” John, started his career on the railway at the age of 15 with British Rail’s signals and telecoms department in Cardiff. Since then he has worked on miles of track, from Paddington – Penzance, Paddington – Fishguard and Fishguard – Birmingham. John, now a Network Rail Site Manger in Port Talbot, said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my career on the railway; I have many fond memories and have met lots of nice people throughout the years. I have no plans to retire at this time and will continue to work on Network Rail’s South Wales resignalling project. “My career has gone full circle – I started my career as an Assistant Technician signalling Port Talbot, and now it appears that my career will come to an end resignalling Port Talbot as a Site Manager.”

Notes to editors

The Port Talbot project is part of a £400 million programme to renew the signalling infrastructure across South Wales over the next decade. The project is well underway, with equipment commissioned in the 1960s being replaced with modern signalling technology, including new signals, signal structures, control systems and track circuits. In 1956 John originally applied for a career in the police force but was rejected for being less than 5’8’’ tall.

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