From Tate Gallery exec to heritage line train driver

Sam Hewitt

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26th February 2019

By Geoff Courtney

Laura Wright, chief executive of the award-winning Mail Rail visitor attraction in central London, became a train driver for the day on January 18, when she swapped her role for hands-on training at the controls of one of the line’s trains.

Laura joined The Postal Museum, which incorporates Mail Rail, last June from Tate Enterprises, where she was CEO.

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In control: Laura Wright enjoys her day of driving one of Mail Rail’s purpose-built trains beneath the streets of London on January 18. Laura, chief executive of the railway and The Postal Museum, described the experience as “fantastic.” THE POSTAL MUSEUM

At the time of her appointment, Rick Wills, chairman of The Postal Museum, described Mail Rail as a “one-of-a-kind underground rail ride,” and on January 18 Laura was able to find out for herself just how unique the experience is.

Complexity

“When I arrived at the museum last June, one of the first things was to ride Mail Rail, and I talked to the guys about driving the tracks as I wanted to understand what they were doing,” she said. With a two-week line closure last month for maintenance and the fitting of a new siding, an opportunity to do just that arose.

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