Richard Casson Email and Phone Number

I have worked within the rail industry for 34 years, starting my career on the Youth Training Scheme for British Rail.During my time on the YTS I was offered a temporary labouring position at the Currock wagon repair depot to which I was part of a team to maintain the housekeeping of the wagon repair shed and facilities. I was then successful in gaining my first full time post as a Railman at Carlisle station, carrying out station duties, cleaning, customer interface, parcel dispatch and delivery. During this time I obtained the fork lift competence. I passed my psychometric test and progressed to Trainman D (freight guard with progression route to train driver) and carried out safety critical duties as a competent train preparer/trainman. During this period the rail industry began the process of privatisation to which I was put through my train driver training with ‘Transrail’ and became a relief train driver. (Freight) The opportunity came to become a full time train driver with regional railways north east driving passenger services based at Carlisle. After a period of two years I was successful in gaining a train driver position at Direct Rail Services. I have been with DRS for 23 years progressing during this period with the following roles; mentor driver, trainer assessor, operations training manager, I am proud to have been involved in the beginning of 40 peoples train driving careers by carrying out rules and regulations training, traction training and route knowledge assessments. A real sense of achievement when you look and observe how their careers develop.Current role of Regional Operations Delivery Manager North. I manage a team of Operations Managers and 5 depots in the North of England and Scotland. I have the following qualifications; A1 assessor, NVQ level 3 in coaching and mentoring, NVQ level 3 in learning and development, currently hold a European train driver licence, competent in train preparation duties, competent in carrying out in service vehicle examinations and successfully completed the Level 5 apprenticeship in Operational Management.