Mike Goodman

Said the following about Mike Wood, Operations Manager:

“• Testimony – Mike Goodman, Regional Operations Manager

Mike Wood deserves recognition for his hard work in, and dedication to, ensuring that vital GB Railfreight operations are carried out on-time and in accordance with the customer’s high expectations.

This has been exemplified in his own tireless efforts as both a Train Manager (driver) and Operations Manager. Two situations, in particular, highlight his commitment to his own team, GBRf as a whole and its customers:

(1) Seasonal train contract in the North West

Mike joined GB Railfreight in 2012 as a Train Manager (driver). He hadn’t been with the company long when we were asked to work all of the Rail Head Treatment Trains in the North West. Mike worked with the planning team to ensure all of the TMs learnt the routes required, resulting in company completing all of the circuits. What is often forgotten is that, while this contract was being carried out, GBRf was also preparing for a new 3 ½ year contract with E.ON, transporting biomass from Liverpool bulk terminal to Ironbridge. The work went to plan and our customer was highly complimentary of all the work Mick put in.

(2) Caledonian Sleeper franchise

Early in 2015 GBRf won the contract to provide traincrew and traction for the Caledonian Sleeper franchise. The prime locomotive was a class 92 and GBRf didn’t have sufficient TMs who signed them and only 12 of the 22 staff that were TUPED to GBRf signed them. If this wasn’t problematic enough, for the first 10 weeks of the contract the trains were diverted via the East Coast Main Line each Sunday, which meant we had a lack of knowledge at Doncaster /Peterborough and the Port of Tyne.

For 13 out of 16 weeks, Michael would leave home on a Sunday afternoon to travel to Scotland to deliver the class 92 training. Part of this training involved practical handling, which was carried out on the Thursday and Friday night. As a result, he was pulling in to Euston around 07.30 hours and then travelling back home to Liverpool

In the 3 weeks he didn’t carry out the training, he was fully engaged with his staff, ensuring all assessment and safety briefs were carried out on time.

All of Mike’s efforts during these difficult times have been acknowledged by his team and the wider GBRf family. In October 2013, Mike was appointed Operations Manager for the North West. He now manages a team of 23 TMs and 9 Assistant Train Managers (ATMs), handling biomass , car trains and NSC trains.

What is more, those closest to him cannot praise him enough. Mike always seems to put other people’s needs before his own and his helpful, welcoming, open and approachable manner is well recognised amongst his team. He has handled some difficult employment issues with great care and empathy towards the individual, remaining professional at all times.

One final set of actions that I’d like to reference, which epitomise Mike’s contribution to GBRf, took place last year, when the company opened its new offices in Liverpool. He worked tirelessly for the opening, making sure all family and friends had a great time. This involved putting on face painting and miniature train sets for the children, and providing unlimited amounts of food. He even went to the trouble of putting bedding plants around the outside of the office.“