RAILWAY veteran Willie Dickson has been appointed president of REPTA – the Railway Employees and Public Transport Association.

The ScotRail train driver, who lives in Grangemouth and has worked in the railway for more than three decades, has been a member of REPTA since 1980.

Willie was at the controls of a train in June 2010 when he unexpectedly came upon “two huge rocks” on the Glasgow-Oban line as the result of a landslip. He made an emergency brake application and stayed at the controls until the train stopped. Then he helped with the evacuation of the train, which had come to rest on a 15m embankment over the A85 road.

His actions were universally praised because they prevented a more serious incident following the landslip. They led to him being honoured as Frontline Employee of the Year at the 2010 Scottish Transport Awards.

Willie, who is based at Glasgow Queen Street station, went to his first national REPTA AGM in 1989 and has attended every one since then. He became vice-president of REPTA in 2012, and is now president.

The 64-year-old said: “Being appointed president of REPTA is not only an honour for me, but for my family too. I hope to uphold the good name of REPTA and promote the benefits of becoming a member.”

Peter Davies, general secretary of REPTA, congratulated the grandfather-of-two.

He said: "I am really pleased that Willie Dickson has been elected as the new national president. I am sure he will do all he can to extend a welcome to all active and retired members of ScotRail to join or re-join ‘The Circle of Good Fellowship’ ".