The RailStaff Awards 2024

David Chapman

Southeastern Railway

Previous Next Nominate

Nominations for Train Driver of the Year

Mark Lawson and Duncan Macdonald

Said the following about David Chapman:

“David is an exemplary Driver Instructor.

He loves his job, and passes on his enthusiasm, knowledge and passion to his trainees.

When you need someone in a crisis, he’s your man!

There have been several times, this year alone, when we’ve needed someone to step up and it’s been David.

One particular occasion was during severe disruption, w/c 25th February. Very few trains ran at all that week, due to the snow and icy conditions – it was awful!

David spent the whole week, having come in early and working long hours, at the Control Point on the platform at Tonbridge, making himself available for any trains which needed to be moved. Often jumping & forgoing his meal staying on to help out making himself available on his rest days just so we always had a stand by driver located at Tonbridge station. He also took himself down to the Jubilee Sidings and helped clear snow from the walkways. A real morale booster.

We assist Southern in running a service between Tonbridge and Redhill – a service which had been cancelled most of the week. We had a platform full of people desperate to get to Gatwick airport, and other destinations, but with no way of getting there. David, with help from conductor Kelly-Lee Alexander, convinced Southern that they should and could put on a service. The service ran with many happy passengers on board – just one of many exceptional things David did that week.

Many thanks from me for all that you do.“