Train carries name “Brett” in memory of duty control manager

Avanti has said that Pendolino 390129, City of Stoke-on-Trent, now proudly carries the name ‘Brett’ on both of its cab ends.

The naming is in memory of Brett Hobson, a much loved and sadly missed member of the railway family, who lost his battle with cancer earlier this year, age 41.

Brett is remembered by train operator Avanti as a passionate railwayman. He was appointed as a Duty Control Manager back in 2016.

With several of his Control Team colleagues coming from Stoke, 390129 was nicknamed the ‘Pride of the Fleet’. It was a tag that stuck and one that Brett, who lived not far away in Crewe, was happy to play along with.

He later joked it would be funny if the train carried his name.

Avanti says it hopes this will be a fitting tribute to “a friend and a really good person.”

It is also hoped it will serve as a reminder to colleagues to look after their health and to ensure that people make sure any potential cancer is diagnosed as early as possible.

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