09 January 2025 •
Last week we were delighted to welcome a special guest to our driver Training Academy at Southend Central when 9-year-old rail enthusiast Zak Dunne joined the team for a very special post-Christmas treat.
The visit was set up after Zak sent a heartfelt letter to our Managing Director, Rob Mullen, last month, within which Zak professed his official fandom of c2c and our Class 720 trains!
To mark the special day, c2c made a special film about Zak’s journey.
The day was led by Andrea Barclay and Simon Smith from our Operations Training team, who went above and beyond to create a tailored session in the simulator for Zak. Dave Selby even prepared a special training pack, which featured information on signals abbreviations and the c2c route, ensuring his visit was as engaging as it was memorable.
Zak got the chance to experience life as a trainee driver and take part in activities designed to inspire a passion for the rail industry. His excitement – and extensive knowledge of the c2c route and our trains – was evident and the joy it brought to him (and his proud dad, Drew) was a pleasure to see.
Rob Mullen said:
“We were thrilled to welcome Zak to our simulator centre and to see his enthusiasm for the railway. Encouraging young people to explore careers in the industry is incredibly important and experiences like these can help ignite a lifelong passion.
“Receiving his letter was something that I will never forget and being able to bring him down in person and see his enthusiasm for c2c first-hand was an experience to treasure.”
In the lead-up to the visit, we also sent Zak some c2c goodies as a Christmas treat. Hearing how much he loved the water bottle, badge, notepad and other items was a wonderful reminder of the impact small gestures can have.
Zak’s father, Drew Dunne, said:
“As a father, there’s nothing better than seeing your child so happy. The effort the c2c team went to was nothing short of amazing – Zak loved every second and hasn’t stopped talking about it since. It was an experience he’ll never forget.”
At c2c, we believe in fostering interest in the rail industry among the next generation, which is why initiatives like this are part of our commitment to inspire young minds and showcase the exciting opportunities within our sector.
Finally, we want to say a big thank you to Andrea, Simon and the team for their fantastic support in making this day so special for Zak and Drew.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
About c2c
- c2c is the award-winning train operator running services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, serving 26 stations in East London and South Essex.
- Owned by Trenitalia, c2c is one of the UK’s most punctual and popular train operators and nearly 35.8 million journeys are made on its services every year.
- Italian-based Trenitalia is one of Europe’s leading rail operators and the passenger rail arm of FS Italiane Group.
- For more information email mediaenquiries@c2crail.net
Images: Featured Image – ‘Zak Dunne and Rob Mullen in the 720simulator’
Second Image – ‘Zak operating the 720 simulator’
Third Image – ‘Rob Mullen showing the simulator to Zak’