Two long-serving railway employees, Martin Rodger and Wayne Seddon, are set to retire after a combined 63 years of service with Northern in the North East. The pair have worked at Newcastle station, playing crucial roles in managing and training train drivers.
Martin, a lead driver team manager from Cramlington, joined British Rail in 1985 as a trainee. Over the years, he has worked at depots in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Buxton, and Blyth Cambois, eventually settling at Newcastle station. He became a driver instructor in 1998 and a driver team manager in 2000. Martin's 39 years of service nearly matches his father's 42-year career in the railway industry.
Wayne, who lives in Hartlepool, began his railway career in 2001 as a booking office clerk at Middlesbrough station. He quickly progressed to become a driver and later a driver instructor. In 2013, he was promoted to driver team manager, a role he held for 13 years before moving to Newcastle in 2021.
Both Martin and Wayne have described their driver team manager roles as immensely rewarding, emphasizing the railway industry as a fulfilling career choice. As Martin put it,
"It's a fantastic job – if you don't mind setting your alarm clock for 3am."
Wayne has agreed to extend his employment by three months to assist the team during the upcoming December 2024 timetable change. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunities the railway has provided, stating, "This job has given me so much... I decided it was the least I could do to help the team."
Jason Wade, regional director for Northern in the North East, praised Martin and Wayne for their significant contributions to the industry. He highlighted their dedication and commitment to training and supporting hundreds of drivers over the years.
Northern, the second-largest train operator in the UK, operates nearly 2,500 services daily to over 500 stations across the North of England. The company will be saying farewell to two of its most experienced and valued employees as Martin and Wayne embark on their well-deserved retirements.
Image credit: Northern
