A Greater Anglia employee has retired after 50 years in the rail industry.
John Coates, 65, started out as a teenage apprentice coppersmith and worked his way up to maintenance manager at the company’s Ilford depot.
In 1967, John joined the depot maintenance team at Ilford Heavy Works shop.
Twenty-three years later, he transferred to Ilford Light Maintenance shop – now known as Greater Anglia’s Ilford Train Maintenance Depot.
John has been a key member of the depot team, his knowledge, experience and dedication are second to none
In 1997, John became the maintenance team leader, later working his way up to maintenance manager, where he was responsible for the depot infrastructure.
Greater Anglia’s Ilford depot team maintains the train operator’s fleet of Class 379, 317, 321 and 360 electric trains, which operate from London Liverpool Street station to destinations across the East of England including Cambridge, Stansted Airport, Shenfield, Southend Victoria and the Great Eastern mainline.
John’s work as depot maintenance manager has been crucial in supporting the Greater Anglia fleet team in their work to help provide over 1,900 train services a day.
Jason Carey, Greater Anglia’s fleet manager, said: “I’d like to congratulate John on his 50 years of working in the rail industry. John has been a key member of the depot team, his knowledge, experience and dedication are second to none and I wish him a very happy retirement.”
