60 SECONDS WITH HELEN CHILD

Every month on Exchange Extra, we take sixty seconds out to get to know our team. Follow us on our journey to connect all members of our network.

This month we introduce you to Helen Child!

Name: Helen Child

Job title: Lead occupational health & safety specialist

Location: Palestra

Hi Helen! Please sum up your role in one sentence

To ensure that systems and procedures within the health and safety structure across the business are standardised and applied while working closely with colleagues in other departments to meet safety and quality thresholds.

Tell us about your journey to ARL…

I was with Chiltern Railways for 20 years, the last 10 were in the health & safety team, supporting colleagues in stations and on trains with health, safety, and wellbeing advice and guidance. In recent years, I was able to expand my knowledge in operational standards and audit & compliance while covering the role of head of safety.

What do you enjoy about working at ARL?

I’m looking forward to working with a new team and colleagues to implement the 2025-26 safety team strategy plan.

What are you most proud of in your career so far?

I am most proud of the time when I chose to change the direction of my career from station management to health & safety. A senior manager had faith that I could rise to the challenge, get the qualifications needed, and build on my experiences to develop my knowledge, for which I am very grateful.

Tell us about your most memorable railway trip…

I’m not a train enthusiast but who can’t get excited when The Flying Scotsman is travelling on your network?! I was lucky enough to welcome Britain’s oldest steam engine into one of Chiltern’s stations, met with the driving crew, and got to stand on the footplate.

Where would you go if you could book a ticket to any destination?

I would love to travel on the Rocky Mountain Express and see The Rockies of Canada by train.