After dedicating almost five decades of service to the rail freight industry and at the age of 74, VTG Rail UK Dry Lease Co-ordinator, Paul Lugg has announced his retirement.
Paul was Engineering Manager for three years before becoming our long-term Tank Fleet Sales Manager. His knowledge and expertise of the wagon leasing business across the UK and Europe is second to none and his long service to the industry was recognised by his peers at the 2023 Rail Freight Group Awards when he was presented with the Outstanding Individual Contribution Award.
Paul’s career in rail freight began in 1977, with wagon leasing company STS. Over the years VTG can trace its roots through the decades with a number of companies that Paul has worked for including STS, which became CAIB, which was later bought by Brambles and in 2002 by VTG so, in essence, he has always worked within the VTG family.
Paul has played a vital role in the development of VTG successes in rail freight as the VTG Rail UK fleet has grown from around 2,000 wagons with under 85% utilisation to 4,500 wagons with over 95% utilisation. His unique combination of technical qualifications, manufacturing experience plus his appreciation of the customer’s needs and practices, have made him something of a sought after rail wagon expert, particularly in the field of tank wagons for petrochemicals.
He has represented both VTG, as well as the wider UK rail freight community on a number of crucial, but often overlooked committees and working groups. As well as taking an active role as part of the RSSB’s Rolling Stock Standards Committee and the Dangerous Goods Working Group (DGWG), Paul also enjoyed a period as Chairman of the Private Wagon Federation (PWF) and was recently rewarded with a certificate commemorating his 50 years of continuous membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
It goes without saying that he will be greatly missed by all his friends and colleagues who have worked with him.
VTG Rail UK Managing Director, Colin Denman paid tribute to him saying: “Paul is an outstanding individual who has dedicated almost half a century of his life to the industry. His encyclopaedic knowledge of wagons and his willingness to share this passion and expertise with the team typifies the true professional he is.
“It’s fair to say that Paul lives and breathes his job and it has been a privilege working alongside him and learning from him during my time as Managing Director. I would like to take this opportunity to wish him every joy and success in his retirement and look forward to hearing what the next chapter in store brings for him.”
Paul was joined by the VTG Rail UK family at The Chequers in Cutnall Green on Friday 12th, where we celebrated Paul’s time and success at VTG, reminiscing his favourite moments (there were so many!).
Good luck Paul – here’s to a long and happy retirement.