73-year-old, Mohammed Yousuf, a chef working for Avanti West Coast, has reached a golden milestone in his career working in the onboard kitchens of the intercity train company.
Yousuf, as he is known to his colleagues, moved to the UK from Pakistan in 1975. He found employment within British Rail at London Euston station at the ‘Lancastrian Grill’ restaurant, where he began his career working as a Kitchen Porter.
Yousuf on Euston station’s concourse // Credit: Avanti West Coast
With a deep interest in cooking, he was soon made a chef at the ‘Lancastrian Grill’ and, by 1991, he became a chef with ‘Intercity Motorail’, a company that transported passengers and their cars across the country by rail.
Following Motorail’s demise in 1995, Yousuf became a chef in restaurant cars on Intercity trains, cooking for passengers on long-distance services travelling the length of the West Coast Mainline, before working for Virgin Trains and Avanti West Coast.
Among the many passengers he cooked for over the years on board the trains, one of Yousuf’s fondest memories is cooking for Jamie Oliver, who was a passenger on one of the Pendolino services.
Jamie wrote him a letter of thanks on a serviette, and Yousef also got the chance to meet and have his photograph taken with the TV Chef.
Yousuf’s colleagues and Avanti staff members gave him a surprise golden anniversary party at London Euston station, which was where he started his career 50 years ago, although the ‘Lancastrian Grill’ restaurant, where he began his career, is now the first class lounge for Avanti West Coast.
Yousuf attending his surprise party at Euston station // Credit: Avanti West Coast
“I have been so grateful to work with so many fantastic people over the years and I am fortunate to be doing something that I love every day. The railway has changed a lot over the years, but it’s the people that make it great – and I don’t plan to stop cooking yet.
“My advice to those who wish to join the railway is to give yourself time. Don’t decide in two weeks or two months whether this is your job or not, give yourself longer – that’s what happened with me. When I started on the trains, I was alongside three or four colleagues who joined the same time, but within two months they left. I stayed and I am so happy I did.”
Yousuf, Avanti West Coast Chef
