“It has been my responsibility to ensure that we have put in place as many mitigations as necessary to keep staff in work and most importantly safe!”

Cara Marsh, Station Manager (Valleys North) at Transport for Wales Rail

As a front line manager, Cara has been responsible for ensuring that there are as many mitigations as necessary in place to keep her staff safe and in work.

Cara has introduced new ways of working, bringing in new forms of technology such as online cleaning checklists and acknowledgments so she can ensure her team are keeping on top of cleaning and sanitation, providing reassurance that we all so desperately need in such difficult times that everyone is doing their part to keep each other safe.

Early on in the pandemic she consulted with the local Union reps to reduce rosters throughout the area to allow staff more time at home in order to reduce risk as much as possible.

“I have tried to remain visible to my team which has been difficult during periods of lockdown”, she said, “however as my team are front line I have done my best to visit them all as often as is reasonable trying to balance this with numerous “teams calls” and telephone calls. We have worked hard to resume staffing levels all while still ensuring the staff are reassured and feel safe to be in work!“

As well as having to deal with Covid, Cara has been getting to grips with the day-to-day business, having only transitioned into the role in late January. The team has been through a period of great change with the Core Valley Lines infrastructure having transferred into Transport For Wales ownership from Network Rail – but Cara and her staff have certainly been up to the challenge!