Meet the veteran turning military experience into bus driving success

Army veteran Andrew Cummings has been a bus driver since he left the British Army back in 1991. He is now helping fellow veterans find purpose and pride in a new career - behind the wheel of a bus.

As a training instructor at Go North East, the region’s biggest bus company, Andrew has already supported more than thirty veterans in their journey as professional drivers. From classroom sessions to time on the road, he offers not just technical training, but real understanding - drawing on his own military background to help others make the leap from service to civilian life.

Andrew says: “Veterans bring so much to this job - professionalism, calm under pressure, great communication, and a real team spirit. I know how hard it can be to find your feet after military life, so to help others do that and build a second career is incredibly rewarding.”

One of those he trained is Craig Foggo, a driver at the company’s Riverside depot. The two quickly discovered they’d served in the same Royal Corps of Transport regiment - years apart - and formed an instant bond.

“It was amazing to meet someone who’d walked the same path,” says Craig. “Andrew helped me reconnect with that part of my life and gave me real confidence when I first started at Go North East. Thanks to him, I’ve even been back in touch with old army mates I hadn’t spoken to in 40 years.”

Go North East is proud to support veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces. To mark Armed Forces Day on Saturday 28 June 2025, the company is offering free travel to all serving personnel (with ID), veterans wearing a veterans’ badge, cadets and anyone in uniform. More details are available on the Go North East website.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Go North East runs a network of bus routes across the North East region including Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, and surrounding areas.

The Go-Ahead Group is one of the UK’s leading providers of public transport, enabling more than a billion passenger journeys each year on its bus and rail services. Go-Ahead places great importance on partnership, adopting a collaborative approach with governments, local communities and strategic partners; developing and operating services that create long-term value for all.

For more information about Go-Ahead Group visit www.go-ahead.com.