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All aboard the Great Western Railway ‘Apprentice Train’ for National Apprenticeship Week

Great Western Railway celebrated National Apprenticeship Week by operating a service crewed by current and former apprentices. 

The train was crewed, driven, dispatched and controlled by current and former GWR apprentices. Network Rail apprentice signallers controlled the train’s journey and Transport for Wales colleagues dispatched the train at Newport. 

View B-roll footage of the 'Apprentice Train' here.

The ‘Apprentice Train’ formed the 1015 service from London Paddington to Cardiff Central on Wednesday and featured more than 20 colleagues from GWR, TfW and Network Rail performing a variety of roles on the service. 

Molly Giffard

The ‘Apprentice Train’ was masterminded by Molly Giffard, 20, from Swansea, an Aspire Operations Management Apprentice.  

Molly, pictured above, said: 

“We wanted to do something to promote the attainability that apprenticeships can give you. This is something that’s ‘real’ and shows that getting your dream job through an apprenticeship is possible. 

“We’re looking forward to welcoming people on board and helping to spread the word about the wealth of opportunities available through GWR apprenticeships.” 

Apprentices were on board the train handing out flyers and GWR goodies, as well as answering questions from passengers and those considering a career in the railway. 

GWR APPRENTICE TRAIN 25

GWR supervises more than 240 apprentices across 2,000 miles of the network and last year received golden recognition as part of the Investors In People ‘We invest in apprentices’ programme. 

GWR Learning and Development Manager Andrew Perry said: 

“National Apprenticeship Week gives us a great opportunity to promote the different opportunities available at GWR and it’s wonderful to see some of our apprentices showing their initiative and taking the lead on the ‘Apprentice Train’.” 

MEET SOME OF THE ‘APPRENTICE TRAIN’ TEAM 

Apprentice Train role 

Name 

Age 

Based 

Current role 

Previous role 

Time at GWR 

Event organiser 

Molly Giffard 

20 

Swansea 

Aspire Operations Management Apprentice 

Customer Host 

1 year 

National Apprenticeship Week Manager 

Thomas Hicks 

26 

Exeter St Davids 

Aspire Operations Management Apprentice 

Conductor 

9 years 

Leading Train Service Delivery Performance Call 

Alphonse Primera 

Reading 

Aspire Operations Management Apprentice 

Service Delivery Assistant 

5 years 

Train driver 

Dan Whitford 

40 

Bristol Parkway 

Train driver 

Coach and Mentor. Apprentice Train Driver 

10 years 

Guard 

Drew Torio 

33 

Paddington 

Aspire Operations Management Apprentice 

Train Manager 

6 years 

First Class Trolley Service 

Katie Ellis 

30 

Cardiff 

Customer Host 

Customer Service Apprentice 

9 years 

Standard Class Trolley  

Tom Blanplain 

19 

Swindon 

Customer Host 

Customer Service Apprentice. Gateline Assistant 

3 years 

Rob Cairns, Interim Regional Managing Director, Network Rail, said: 

“The Apprentice Train is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the diverse range of jobs available in the rail industry and shine a light on some of the incredible people we have working as part of our railway family. 

“Apprenticeships offer a rewarding, hands-on experience with plenty of routes for career progression. We have apprentices working right across Wales and Western in different capacities and would encourage anyone who is considering a career in the railway to look into the opportunities available this National Apprenticeship Week. You too could be part of running a journey like this in future!” 

Find out more about GWR's apprenticeship programmes here.

Contact Information

John Carter

Media and Communications Manager

Great Western Railway

0845 410 4444

John.Carter1@gwr.com

Notes to editors

First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR has been awarded a National Rail Contract to continue operating the Great Western network, which shall run up to 21 June 2025, with the potential for a further three years at the Secretary of State’s discretion. Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us