For Richard Kail, a career in rail was never part of the original plan. As a teenager, Richard was an aspiring footballer, spending two years in the academy at Crystal Palace. However, a series of knee injuries brought those ambitions to an early end. At 17, he found himself working full-time at WH Smith, before taking his first step into the railway industry at the age of 19 as a Platform Assistant with Gatwick Express at Gatwick Airport. “I loved the role,” Richard recalls.
After a couple of years, he was mentoring new starters, covering shifts in the Control Point, and beginning to see opportunities beyond his initial position. It was clear that he wanted to broaden his horizons and continue developing within the industry.
In 2019, Richard moved into the role he still holds today as an On Board Supervisor for GTR Southern, based at Horsham depot. Alongside his operational responsibilities, he serves as a Health and Safety Representative for the RMT Union, a role that now takes up a significant portion of his time.
“Due to my Rep position, I seem to spend around 50% of my time off trains these days, heavily involved in local safety meetings, consulting on projects, attending committees and undertaking inspections.”
Not long after achieving Associate membership, Richard began to consider whether he might be ready for the next level. Initially, he wasn’t convinced. “I knew what Associate meant to me and thought Member status would be a while in the making.”
However, after taking the time to compare his experience and knowledge against the POD framework, he realised his skills aligned more closely with the Member requirements than he had expected.
“I decided to start mapping my knowledge and experience to the required PODs and saw that it did actually map quite well.” Successfully achieving Member status has had a profound impact on his confidence, both personally and professionally.
“Actually, achieving Member status means that I can safely ignore my Impostor Syndrome and those voices in my head that tell me it couldn’t be me. It shows that when I step into something I initially feel anxious about, I can hold my own and make that position mine. I’m incredibly proud of myself.”
Although Richard admits he has not yet attended as many CIRO events as he would like, he has made extensive use of the Institution’s resources. He describes the CIRO website as a valuable hub of information, with CIRO TV standing out as a particular favourite.
“CIRO TV in particular has some incredible content, where I’ve been watching experts and people truly passionate about the industry, laying out their knowledge, experience and explanations of areas I don’t think I’d find elsewhere.”
The POD framework itself has also played an important role in helping him recognise the breadth of knowledge he has built throughout his career. “The POD framework has truly opened my eyes to just how much information and knowledge I do already possess, which has grown my confidence massively.”
For members wondering whether the time is right to apply for an upgrade, Richard encourages them to take an honest look at their own experience.
“I wasn’t sure about the timing myself, but once I laid out my own experience against the different POD sections and spent time assessing whether I could meet the criteria, it all became a lot clearer.”
His advice is straightforward: “Spend some time reading the upgrade guidance notes and the different POD sections. I think most people out there from a railway background may surprise themselves.”
For Richard, becoming a CIRO Member represents far more than a professional milestone. Reflecting on his footballing days, he remembers often seeking validation from teammates and supporters before feeling he truly belonged. Achieving Member status has helped provide that same sense of recognition within his professional life.
“Now, when I can pass on my knowledge and people ask for my advice, or when I point people in the right direction and sign things off knowing I’ve earned Member status, I feel like I belong here.”
Professionally, the recognition reinforces his confidence and provides reassurance that his experience and contributions are valued. “It gives me confidence in my decisions, reinforces the sense that I’ve earned the recognition, and helps me feel a greater sense of reward for being at work.”
Richard’s focus is now firmly on the future. Currently undertaking a personal development journey centred on Safety, Health and Environmental studies, he is considering how his career might evolve over the coming years.
A longstanding knee condition and recent surgery have prompted him to think about opportunities beyond the physical demands of working on trains. “I’d like to combine my railway development with formal Safety, Health and Environmental qualifications and move into a Safety Specialism role within the rail industry.”
He knows the journey will require patience and determination, but he is optimistic about what lies ahead. “It’s a long road, requires patience and motivation, but having CIRO’s recognition and support from within the industry, I feel almost unstoppable.”
When he’s not working or studying, Richard enjoys travelling with his wife, friends and family. Together, they collect Hard Rock Cafe memorabilia from every location they visit, and he has already added 22 locations to his collection.
Travel has become a personal challenge of its own. Having visited 21 countries so far, Richard jokes that he is in a friendly competition with a driver at his depot who has travelled to more than 100. “He’s got a 20-year head start on me, though; I’ll catch him eventually…”
Accelerate your career journey by upgrading your CIRO membership. Find out how, and take the first step here: https://www.ciro.org/upgrade-your-membership/
