Sally Ralston

Said the following about Chris Bowden:

“We know he hasn't save someone’s life or done anything mightily heroic, but there are a couple of people in the Southport traincrew depot who have really held the whole team together and Chris is one of them. Without the positive attitude and smiles. We believe the depot would have been a much harder place to work.

The Merseyrail Southport Traincrew Depot has been through a tough time in 2019 with the loss of two of their colleagues in tragic circumstances. During this time Chris has been a calming and positive influence on his colleagues at the depot. Everybody in the depot calls him a friend and he has really brightened up what has been a sad and grey time.

Whether he is pulling a shift in resource control, counting up the money for the welfare club or training a new guard Chris always has a smile on his face, a positive attitude and a kind word to say.

As regards to mentoring and training our new recruits he puts his heart and soul into his trainees and keeps the old values of the welfare and colleague community spirit alive.

One very good example of how Chris approaches his role was when he was assisting a very drunk female to ensure she got home safely on 02.03.2019 very late at night.

A young female passenger was asleep on the last train into Southport and was quite unresponsive. He rang ahead to the barrier staff at the station to meet him to assist with the intoxicated female.

On arrival at Southport station she was finally awake but still very drunk. He took her to the local taxi rank at the station to try to arrange a taxi with one of the drivers that he knew, but there were no vehicles available at the time.

He then managed to get a call to her boyfriend who eventually came to collect her and take her home to Burscough which is a fair distance away. Chris stayed with her the whole time as he didn’t want to leave her on her own as she was in a very vulnerable condition. He appreciates and was well aware of the issues that could confront a vulnerable female travelling late at night on a transport network. Chris stayed with the female even though it was way after his booking off time to make sure that she was safe and that plans were put in place to get her home.

We know that all of Chris’s colleagues say it’s a pleasure working with him. During what has been a very sad time at the depot, he has made his colleagues smile and put a positive attitude forward to everyone.

In regards to the incident with the drunken female, she remained safe and got home to her family. Chris is very conscientious in his role and looks after his customers always. Chris demonstrates the company values at all times, but this incident was at the end of the service and there was no way he would leave a vulnerable customer. He also praised the other barrier staff members who assisted with getting her off the last train into Southport.

Chris is a genuine person who has a zest for life and is always smiling and pushing to keep colleague interaction and team spirit alive. Everyday!“