Tom Clift

As an experienced rail manager, the 58-year-old was well regarded by his staff, always leading from the front, but he also had that rare quality among rail operators of being a champion of passengers.

It is a facet of the man that has been stressed the most in the many tributes that have been paid to him, as well as being remembered for his tenacity, dry humour, enthusiasm, care for colleagues and attention to detail. 
He was born in Leamington Spa, the youngest of three children, but his family background was Welsh and he spent much of his life in Wales.

He was educated at Warwick School and on leaving was offered a university place at Swansea University, but instead chose to join British Rail as a management trainee, later gaining a BA Hons in Business Studies with Transport Economics.

He worked his way up through the rail industry, and when he died on September 4 that day marked the completion of his 40th year as a career railway-
man.   

Before November 1991 he held a number of operational posts with British Rail in the Western Region and in Wales, until he was appointed resources planning manager at Regional Railways HQ in Birmingham where he spent nearly three-and a half years.

In 1994 he became production director for Cardiff Railway Co Ltd where he played a major part in preparing the company for privatisation. In December 1996 he took over as managing director of the company as well being general manager for Valley Lines, then eventually general manager and director for the new Wales & Borders franchise.

He later became franchise executive for Arriva Trains Ltd from January 2004 to September 2004, so significantly improving train services that they went from the bottom of the league to the top. Passenger figures also grew by 50 per cent between 1999 - 2003.

From there he moved to Arriva Trains Wales until in August 2007 he became managing director of Grand Central Railway, the newly formed open access train operator, a post he held until February this year when it was bought by Arriva.

During that time, he saw the introduction of services between Sunderland, York and London, and in May 2012 a second service linking Bradford and London.

He consistently achieved top scores in customer satisfaction, in the independent annual National Passengers’ Survey, and promoted an ethos that resulted in the company being very highly regarded not only by its passengers, but by a wide variety of external stakeholders.

During his time with Grand Central he was based at York and although his home was in Wales he spent a lot of time living in Bedale.

He would take the London-bound train each morning from Northallerton to York spending the journey talking to the many passengers travelling with his company.

His many other interests included being a director of a rail consultancy, and vice-chairman of the Heart of Wales Line Travellers’ Association a role which made him probably the only managing director of a railway company to also 
hold office representing passengers.

When he moved to Grand Central he took a keen interest in the local community becoming chairman and director of 
the World of James Herriot 
museum, in Thirsk, and was a good friend of the Wensleydale Railway.

One of the founders, and former secretary of the Wensleydale Railway Association, Ruth Annison, said: “Professionally, Tom Clift’s achievements were clear for all to see. Train services that won the hearts as well as the custom of rail passengers.”

In a national survey of UK rail companies last year, Grand Central came top with 95 per cent for passenger satisfaction.

His staff and rail industry colleagues knew that Tom’s enthusiasm and personal qualities were the glue that made his leadership so special.

Mr Clift was a supporter of Sheffield United FC and Caerphilly RFC.

He is survived by his wife Olivia, daughter Ellie, sister Susan and brother John.

A funeral service will be held at St. Martin’s Parish Church, Caerphilly, on Monday, September 24, at 1.15pm.