I'm just 26 but my revolutionary app could transform part of the rail industry

A Northern manager is up for prestigious award after created an app that has the potential to be a game-changer for part of the rail industry.

Sebastian Chromiak, a 26-year-old who lives in Didsbury, is on a shortlist for the Young Rail Professional of the Year award. He has been named amongst the eight finalists for his development of an app that provides staff with a real time record of when carriages have been cleaned, meaning priority can be given to those most in need. 

Sebastian joined the company in 2022 as a graduate. He went on to develop the app which has become industry-leading, and has resulted in him being nominated for the Young Rail Professionals award which will be handed out at a ceremony next month. 

“It was a big surprise to be nominated and it’s nice to be recognised,” he said. “Looking at the nominees, there’s no one else from a train operating company so it's good to represent one. It puts us on the map, so it’s nice from that perspective.”

Sebastian was promoted to Train Presentation Regional Manager last year, and looks after around 200 people who ensure services are clean for customers. He added: “Since Covid, there has probably been a step change in what customers expect.

“It’s also quite challenging when you’ve got to ensure you deliver the same level of performance with regards to customer satisfaction while going through a major piece of transformation work within engineering, which is completely changing our operating model, particularly at our train care centres. It’s a challenge, but it’s definitely enjoyable and it keeps the head ticking.”

Richard Holt, head of train presentation at Northern, had plenty of praise for Sebastian. He touched on how he is a “fantastic role model” for the new graduates following in his footsteps. 

Richard said: “We’re delighted to see Seb has been recognised for his hard work and dedication by being shortlisted for this award. He is a fantastic role model for our new graduates, showing what they can achieve in a short period of time.”

Sebastian has a degree in Economics from the University of Manchester amongst his education. He went on to complete a masters in Railway Operations, Management and Policy at the University of Leeds in 2022. The Young Rail Professionals awards ceremony will be held in London on Thursday, March 14.