Phil Read’s 700-Mile Cycle: Remembering Rail Colleagues

Train driver Phil Read cycles 700 miles for British Heart Foundation, starting September 7th. The CrossCountry Trains veteran commemorates fallen colleagues.

Phil Read’s 700-Mile Cycle: Remembering Rail Colleagues
September 6, 2025 1:49 pm
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Introduction

Retired train driver Phil Read, 56, is preparing to cycle 700 miles from Stechelberg in Switzerland to Tamworth, commencing on 7th September, to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation. The journey, in memory of two former rail colleagues, will conclude on 14th September.

The Cycling Challenge

Phil Read, a former CrossCountry Trains driver and current trainer at The Rail Academy, will begin his 700-mile cycling journey on 7th September from Stechelberg in Switzerland’s Jungfrau Region. The route will traverse Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands before the final leg from Hull to Tamworth on 14th September, which includes a ferry crossing. He plans to average 100 miles per day, with the shortest day covering 85 miles and the longest 125 miles.

Support Team

Supporting Phil will be fellow Rail Academy trainers Chris Duddy and Abby Khalifa, both former train drivers, providing logistical and morale support from an accompanying vehicle.

Motivation and Cause

The challenge is in memory of Rich Burgess and Marc Jones. Rich was a former CrossCountry Trains train driver colleague from Tamworth, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 50. Marc, an ex-British Rail Second-man and Train Driver at Chiltern Railways, passed away in 2023.

Fundraising Details

Phil is raising funds for the British Heart Foundation through his JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/philip-read-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL.

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Conclusion

Phil Read’s cycling challenge, starting on 7th September, aims to cover 700 miles from Switzerland to Tamworth, raising money for the British Heart Foundation in memory of Rich Burgess and Marc Jones.

CrossCountry Trains

CrossCountry Trains is a former employer of Phil Read and Rich Burgess.

The Rail Academy

The Rail Academy is where Phil Read currently works as a trainer. Chris Duddy and Abby Khalifa also work at The Rail Academy.

British Rail

British Rail was the former employer of Marc Jones.

Chiltern Railways

Chiltern Railways was the former employer of Marc Jones.

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