By Michael Dobson, Recruitment Manager - Transportation and Facilities Management
In Conversation With: Mark Dickinson, Regional Fleet Manager at East Midlands Railway
Our new In Conversation With series shines a light on industry leaders who share their insights, experiences, and contributions to the rail sector.
To launch the series, we sat down with Mark Dickinson, Regional Fleet Manager at East Midlands Railway (EMR), who offers an exclusive look into the evolving world of train presentation, a crucial part of rail operations that ensures trains go into service in the best possible condition for passengers and stakeholders.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, cleanliness on trains has taken on an even greater level of importance. Mark discusses how EMR has enhanced its approach to cleanliness, built a dedicated department, and worked closely with partners such as Ganymede to deliver excellence across the network.
What does your role consist of?
“Train presentation is exactly what it says on the can. Our primary job is to clean trains and ensure they go into service in the best possible condition for our customers and stakeholders. Our team varies in size, with sites across the country where we provide train presentation services.
I ensure we meet our standards and targets while keeping our teams trained, compliant, and working to their full potential. This involves focusing on current operations while also planning for future improvements in areas like innovation and development. At the heart of it all are the people who work for us. They do a tough job, and my focus is on supporting them, ensuring they have the right mindset, that their well-being is prioritised, and that they are equipped to perform at their best.”
Achievements and highlights within train presentation for 2024
“I joined the business around two years ago, and at that time, train presentation didn’t really exist; it was part of the fleet function. In the last 18 months to two years, we’ve developed a formal department with its own structure, including management systems and procedures. This has created an environment where people share ideas and feel confident in what they are doing.
Despite the challenges of implementing big changes, we’ve achieved a lot in a short period of time. For example, we’ve seen a 20% increase in units and trains in the East Midlands fleet, and we’ve found ways to manage that. While it’s still a work in progress, we’ve made great strides. In just 18 months, the whole management team, including Simon Kelly, Head of our function, has accomplished a lot.”
Key challenges faced within train presentation
“One of the key challenges is adapting new ideas and concepts to fit into a very old system of work. Coming from an industrial background, the railway was a shock to the system as it operates very differently and within its own parameters.
It’s fine to come in with new ideas and say we’re going to do it this way, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will work. Challenging the status quo takes longer than expected. However, I think we’ve done well so far, and the culture shift is starting. In the next 12 to 18 months, we should be heading in the direction we want.”
The value of partnership: EMR and Ganymede
Ganymede and EMR have built a strong partnership over the years, with collaboration playing a key role in delivering successful outcomes across fleet operations.
“Ganymede’s workforce solutions and staffing have been a massive help. They have supported us by providing additional resources, and a big part of what we do relies on temporary recruitment.
Ganymede has played a key role in this by ensuring due diligence is carried out upfront, assessing individuals to ensure they are comfortable with what we’re trying to achieve and our expectations. This has made the process seamless, with new staff ready to enter the training environment and integrate into the team. Compliance has been fantastic, and they fit in easily, coming in without preconceptions and fully understanding how we operate and what we want to achieve. This is down to Ganymede and the processes they use to prepare them.”
Looking ahead: What’s next for train presentation in 2025?
“It’s about identifying incremental changes we can make going forward and exploring how we can utilise Ganymede’s services more effectively, potentially across the entire function, not just within my sector. As a fairly new team and function within EMR, it’s important to ensure the fit continues, providing resources for our stakeholders and passengers while also maintaining the resources we need to succeed.”
Final thoughts
“From my perspective, when I joined this industry, there was a prevailing mindset among the train presentation crew and carriage cleaners, that they were ‘just cleaners’. Over the last 18 months, I’ve worked hard to change that mindset and culture, and I will continue to drive this message in the years to come. These individuals underpin the service we provide. Without their efforts, the rest of the business would likely struggle to function effectively.”
Ganymede extends its thanks to Mark Dickinson for sharing his insights as part of our In Conversation With series. Mark regularly shares updates on train presentation and effective people management on LinkedIn — connect with him here.
Thank you
A huge thank you to Mark Dickinson for participating in the first edition of our In Conversation With series.
We hope this insight into the industry has been valuable. This series will continue as a regular feature in our Transportation Newsletter, sharing expert perspectives on key topics and emerging trends across the supply chain.
If you would like to take part in a future edition, please contact: Charlotte Cruise at charlotte.cruise@ganymedesolutions.co.uk or Michael Dobson at michael.dobson@ganymedesolutions.co.uk.