FROM THE TRACK TO THE TRIATHLON – RAILWAY MAN SETS HIS SIGHTS ON GOLD

Tuesday 13 Jun 2006

FROM THE TRACK TO THE TRIATHLON – RAILWAY MAN SETS HIS SIGHTS ON GOLD

Region & Route:: | Southern

It will be full steam ahead for Cambridge and Peterborough railway man Nigel Meek this summer after being chosen to represent Great Britain in the European Triathlon Championships. By day, Operations Delivery Manager Nigel works in Network Rail’s Cambridge depot leading an 18-strong maintenance team who help to keep the region’s railway running smoothly. But it’s ‘all change’ in his free time when Peterborough resident Nigel swaps the train for trainers, trunks and bike so he can compete in triathlon events across the country. A tri-athlete of six years, Nigel’s quick times and outstanding performances in recent events have earned him a well-deserved call-up to the Great Britain team competing in the European Triathlon Championships in France this June. Nigel will compete in the 35-39 age group against tri-athletes from all across Europe in a 1500m swim, 40km bike-ride and 10km run. Network Rail’s Route Director, Jon Wiseman, said: “Being chosen for the Great Britain team is a tremendous achievement so I can only congratulate Nigel. Everyone at Network Rail wishes Nigel the best of luck and I hope everyone will join us in cheering him and the Great Britain team on this summer.” Nigel added: “It’s a great honour to be picked for the Great Britain team and I hope I can do my country and the people of Cambridge and Peterborough proud this summer. I’m grateful for all the encouragement from my railway colleagues – with their support there’s no way I’ll be running out of steam come race-time!” The European Triathlon Championships will take place in Autun, France from the 23 to 25 June.

Notes to editors

1. Photos available on request: Network Rail’s Nigel Meek on his bike and on the starting blocks ready to race! 2. Nigel Meek lives in Peterborough and trains at the Werrington Sports Centre and Oundle Swimming Pool 3. Full details about the British Triathlon Team are available at www.britishtriathlon.org

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Network Rail press office - South East route
020 3357 7969
southeastroutecomms@networkrail.co.uk

About Network Rail

We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.

Media centre