The Grand Central Station Ambassador Programme was piloted in the North East at Hartlepool and Eaglescliffe stations before being launched in Brighouse in 2014.
Now more than 80 volunteer station ambassadors work with us to respond to passenger queries and provide them with a friendly welcome to the towns along our North East and West Riding routes.
Our ambassadors man stations on a Sunday, talking to passengers, answering any questions and assisting with problems. The ambassadors also work on ensuring people coming into the stations get the best from the destinations.
Our ambassador coordinator Paul Stevenson, says,
Volunteering on the railway gives our ambassadors a sense of belonging both to the company and the locality. They are doing something towards a green agenda, encouraging rail travel and because Grand Central’s reputation is good they can take pride in being part of an industry leader.
The scheme’s purpose was originally to engage with local communities through a scheme that filled the gap in staff presence at stations on Sundays. However, as that network has grown we have realised that the ambassadors are a great way to keep our eyes and ears open to all things local. We love having highly committed, passionate and knowledgeable champions who fly the flag for our communities, ensuring visitors return.
Meet the Ambassadors
“This gives the passengers the confidence that Grand Central is here to support them” Retired business adviser Colin Griffiths has been a keen supporter of Grand Central since 2007 when we first launched a service from the North East.
“I feel I’m really doing something worthwhile” Former building society worker-turned ceramic tiler, David Duncan has been into trains ever since he was a teenager in the 1950s. “I just love the railways,” he beams.
“Grand Central is a different sort of rail operator” Training manager David Richardson has been a Grand Central ambassador since 2017, though it’s a wonder how he manages to find the time as he’s also a town councillor, police volunteer, neighbourhood watch scheme and chair of trustees for a loca
“We are just ‘the railway’ for a lot of people” Retired radiation physicist Martin Green never imagined that he’d one day be tasked with rescuing a runaway hamster from the train tracks. But it’s all in a day’s work for a Grand Central ambassador.
“I enjoy meeting and greeting people and helping them, whether it’s to get to the right carriage or helping with their luggage or just to have a nice journey” For retired mechanical engineer Richard Armitage, his duties as a Grand Central ambassador sit alongside a range of community work, includ