Boy gets VIP day out after chance meeting on train

A 12-year-old boy with a love of trains was invited to ride in the driver's cab after a chance meeting with a railway boss.

Nathaniel Briggs, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, has autism and ADHD and has always been fascinated with trains.

He was travelling on board a service through Manchester with his parents a few weeks ago when he noticed a man wearing a TransPennine Express (TPE) lanyard and said hello.

The man turned out to be TPE managing director Chris Jackson, who invited Nathaniel on a cab ride on two services between York and Scarborough.

Anthony Briggs, Nathaniel’s father, said TransPennine Express had made his son's dreams come true.

“We had a fantastic experience, and Nathaniel loved it," he said.

"The memories made during his big day out will stay with him for a lifetime.

"Nathaniel will certainly have something a little different to talk about when he returns to school."

Lead Driver Manager Steve Whitehead gave Nathaniel a TPE gift bag, which included his own hi-vis jacket.

Nathaniel was then allowed to sound the horn as they drove past a whistle board, a sign that marks a location where a train driver is required to sound the horn.

The Briggs family were also given VIP First Class travel on their trip to and from York.

Nathaniel said: "Thanks for the cab ride, Steve, I liked tooting the horn."

Mr Whitehead said: “It was lovely to meet Nathaniel and his father Anthony.

“Nathaniel is a fantastic young boy; he was brilliant at pointing out the signals during the cab rides and was a natural at spotting the whistle board signs.

“I’m glad we could offer Nathaniel this experience, it’s always great to meet people who could be part of the next railway generation.”

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