Rail User Groups Say Thanks and Happy Retirement to Customer Focused Rail Manager

Two local rail user groups, representing rail users on the railway lines south of Birmingham’s Snow Hill and Moor Street stations to Stratford upon Avon and Leamington Spa, gathered on Saturday to pay a fond farewell to Ian Taylor of West Midlands Trains, who is retiring and has been the Line Manager for the two routes for over 10 years. 

The Shakespeare Line Rail User Group (SLRUG) and the Solihull and Leamington Spa Rail Users Association (SALRUA) expressed their thanks to Ian Taylor at a surprise event on Saturday, 30 November, at Henley in Arden’s recently reopened station, which is now a community hub, bar and microbrewery. 

Terry Phillips, Vice Chair of SLRUG and Martin Lambert, Chair of SALRUA, presented a signed and framed limited edition print of a painting by John Austin, a Fellow of the Guild of Railway Artists, of “The Cornishman at Henley in Arden” on behalf of the Rail User Groups. 

After the presentation, Peter Morris, Chair of SLRUG, said, “Ian Taylor has been an exemplary Line Manager for over ten years along our line. He has always been available to us and has regularly attended our meetings. Ian’s customer focus is an example to all, and so many passengers have appreciated how Ian has looked after the stations along the line. We thank him for so many years of service and wish him all the best for his retirement.”  

Martin Lambert, Chair of SALRUA, added, “Ian has always focused on the passenger, and nothing has ever been too much trouble for him regarding customer service; his presence will be very much missed. We’d like to thank Ian for all his help and service over the years.” 

Ian also received a presentation and thanks from Angela Okey, Chair of Friends of Henley Railway Station(FHRS), who said, “FHRS would like to say a big thank you to Ian for helping us in so many ways to get the renovation and repurposing of the station building off the ground. Ian’s involvement and support were crucial and was much appreciated; we all wish him a long and happy retirement.”