Hull Trains Celebrates Staff Achievements at Excellence Awards Event

Hull Trains has recognised the contributions of its employees at a recent Excellence Awards event, highlighting the people behind its operational success.

The ceremony, held at The Deep in Hull, provided an opportunity for staff to come together and celebrate achievements across a variety of areas, including customer service, safety, teamwork and community involvement.

The event follows a strong period for the open access operator, which was recently ranked as the top-performing UK operator in the Rail Customer Experience Report. Hull Trains also secured ‘Operator of the Year’ at the Spotlight Rail Awards.

A number of individuals were recognised for their contributions. Steve Hick, Onboard Manager, received the There For Our Customers Award in recognition of consistently positive passenger feedback and his approachable service style.

Rebecca Tuthill, Onboard Manager Instructor, was presented with both the Respecting Our Colleagues Award and the Dominic Russell Outstanding Contribution Award, reflecting her dedication and the high regard in which she is held by colleagues.

Steph Young, Onboard Manager, collected the Dedicated To Safety Award for her strong commitment to maintaining and promoting safety standards. Meanwhile, Ryan Shaw, Head of Revenue Development, was awarded the Giving Back To Our Communities Award for his work supporting local initiatives, including volunteering and charity fundraising efforts.

Dave Winn, Fleet Engineer, received the Considering Tomorrow Award for his focus on maintaining reliability and service performance, while May Thosuwan, Planning and Resource Assistant, was named Rising Star for her enthusiasm and positive impact within the team.

In addition, 12 members of staff were recognised for reaching 20 years of service, underlining the organisation’s strong employee retention and culture. Hull Trains marked its 25th anniversary last year.

Stuart Jones, Managing Director of First Rail Open Access, who presented the awards, praised the workforce for their commitment: “It was a privilege to celebrate colleagues who consistently deliver for our customers. The number of long service milestones reflects the strength of the culture that has been built within the business.”

Deborah Birch, Head of HR at Hull Trains, added: “Our colleagues are central to everything we do. Their dedication and professionalism are key to delivering the high standards our customers expect.”

Hull Trains operates direct weekday services between East Yorkshire and London King’s Cross, serving locations including Selby, Doncaster, Retford and Grantham. Since launching in 2000, the operator has significantly enhanced rail connectivity for the region.

The company has also indicated plans to continue building on this momentum, with further projects and initiatives in development, including new episodes of its Moving Minds podcast series.