'My dad drove the train for my first shift as a conductor'

Ella Phillips was the conductor aboard a train driven by her father for her first shift with Northern

The first day of a new job is always nerve-wracking, but for 18-year-old newly qualified train conductor Ella Phillips, it was made easier by a surprise appearance.

Miss Phillips, who lives in Baildon, completed three months of training with Northern after finishing college.

On her first shift she was rostered to work the 06:04 service from Skipton to Bradford Forster Square on 11 June - and was delighted to see that the train was driven by her father.

"I couldn't believe it," Miss Phillips said. "We thought we might be put together on a random day, but not on my first shift."

She and her father Daniel did not know their schedules would align until they arrived for work that day, and were paired together for the first three services of the shift.

Miss Phillips said: "It was a bit nerve-wracking thinking that if I mess up my dad will be watching, but I also knew that if anything went wrong and I needed help, he would be there.

"He's a really good person to work with."

She added: "I love my job. I like that it keeps you on your toes and every day is slightly different.

"I'm not stuck in the same place, doing the same thing, every day.

"I'm the youngest at the depot in Skipton but we all have a laugh and everyone makes me feel comfortable."

Mr Phillips, who has been a driver for two years, said: "I was happy that it was me driving, to make her feel a bit more comfortable on her first time out.

"As a parent, that's what you want.

"I was checking the cameras to see if she was doing everything right and I was really impressed with how she owned it.

"To see her bossing it made me really proud.

"She's doing a great job."

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