GB Railfreight’s John Smith recognised with Lifetime Achievement Award

John Smith, Managing Director of GB Railfreight was recognised for his dedication and service to the rail industry at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Technology (CILT) Annual Awards for Excellence.

HRH Princess Anne presented John with the prestigious Presidents Award at the glittering ceremony surrounded by colleagues and friends.

John has worked on the railways for the past 42 years, founding GB Railfreight in 1999 and working tirelessly to grow the business. Today GBRf is the third largest rail freight business in the UK with ambitious plans to further develop their footprint in the intermodal market.

John is very deserving of this award. His experiences have afforded him a unique insight into the challenges and opportunities that rail freight faces, with the ability to compose solutions to guarantee the best possible service for GBRf’s highly valued customers.

Through strong leadership, taking the time to pass on his considerable knowledge to colleagues and generally being an approachable person, John has been an inspirational driving force and highly regarded by those working alongside him.

Sir Peter Hendy CBE, Chair of Network Rail, said: “John is a great present-day railway industry leader, and this award is richly deserved. He has made GBRf what it is and made a huge contribution to the wider industry. Well done, John!”

John Smith, Managing Director GB Railfreight, commented: “I am absolutely thrilled to have received this award. It is an honour and privilege. I first started out on the railways at the age of 16 as a Technician Apprentice at British Rail. This was an incredible opportunity for me and set me on the right path. Now, after 42 years in the sector I’m delighted to help play a role in bringing new talent into the sector and drive forward growth in freight. I feel we are entering an important and very exciting time for the industry.”

For more information visit www.gbrailfreight.com

28th October 2019