A man who had a 43-year-long career on the railways celebrated his 90th birthday yesterday (4th February) and was invited to celebrate at the Manchester Rail Operating Centre (ROC) last week.

Eric Hilton, a former railway signaller, spent years in a variety of roles.

Eric and his guests visited the ROC and were shown how operations have changed, and got to see behind the scenes at the technology and teams which keep railways moving.

He was also thanked for his service, and it provided a valuable chance to look back on the network’s evolution and reconnect with familiar faces.

“It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Eric and his friends to the Manchester Rail Operating Centre. Eric has an incredible railway story, and it was fascinating listening to his experiences from a career that spanned so many roles across the industry.

“Looking after our railway family is incredibly important to us, and this visit was a chance to recognise Eric’s contribution and to say thank you as he celebrates a very special milestone.”

Phil James, Route Director at Network Rail