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Thursday 5 Feb 2026

Former railway signaller celebrates his 90th birthday with a return to his roots

Region & Route:

North West & Central

A former railway signaller has celebrated his 90th birthday with a special visit to the Manchester Rail Operating Centre (ROC), returning to the railway where he spent more than four decades of his career.

Eric Hilton, who turned 90 on Wednesday 4 February, spent almost 43 years working across the railway, building a career that took him through a variety of roles, becoming station manager at Crewe before moving into train planning, operations control and later working at Warrington's power signal box.

Last week, Eric and his guests were welcomed to the Manchester ROC, where they were shown how modern railway operations are managed today and given a behind-the-scenes look at the technology and teams that keep trains moving across the network.

Eric’s visit was a chance to recognise a long and varied career on the railway, and to thank him for the contribution he made over more than four decades of service.

During the visit, Eric was able to see how railway operations have evolved since his time on the network, while reconnecting with familiar faces and revisiting a place that’s central to keeping the railway running today.

Phil James, Route Director at Network Rail, said: "It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Eric and his friends to the Manchester Rail Operating Centre. Eric has an incredible railway story, and it was fascinating listening to his experiences from a career that spanned so many roles across the industry.

"Looking after our railway family is incredibly important to us, and this visit was a chance to recognise Eric’s contribution and to say thank you as he celebrates a very special milestone.”

Reflecting on the day, Eric said: "I’ve had a wonderful birthday experience here, and I never expected anything like it.

"My time on the railway was incredibly varied, and I could talk about it for hours. It was a fantastic career and an experience I would happily repeat. And being welcomed back today has meant a great deal to me."

For more information about the wide range of roles that support the railway, visit www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/.