Southeastern, the railway company serving Kent, Sussex and Southeast London are very proud to confirm that Sonia Maulson, their General Manager (North), has been appointed MBE (Member of the British Empire) in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2023 today (His Majesty’s first such list).
Sonia’s hugely well-deserved honour recognises a career of immense public service on the railway, which spans over 30 years to date. The nomination for Sonia’s honour highlighted the enormous contribution she made during momentous recent times including the Covid-19 pandemic and ‘Operation London Bridge’ – events during the Mourning Period for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Southeastern and the rail industry at large played a substantial part in supporting travel to and from central London for people who wanted to pay their respects to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, carrying over three million customers at that time.
More than that, in marking Sonia’s achievements, the honours nomination highlighted her kindness and support to colleagues and customers over her remarkable career.
Gary Maulson, Sonia’s husband, also a longstanding railway employee said:
“I cannot stress enough how proud I am of Sonia and of what she has achieved throughout her railway career. She always gives 100% to everything she does. She so deserves this recognition. She is a star that is worthy of all the plaudits that come from such an award. I and the whole family are just so proud.”
David Wornham, Southeastern’s Passenger Services Director said:
“We are so proud of Sonia and this enormously special achievement. Everyone on the railway works incredibly hard to support our customers and each other and Sonia is absolutely central to making that happen. We are so happy to celebrate this honour from His Majesty for our very own ‘Queen of the North'."
Steve White, Southeastern’s Managing Director said:
“Sonia’s appointment as MBE is totally fitting recognition of the enormous contribution she makes to our industry and its customers and by extension to public service in our community. She is humble, kind to her team and our customers and driven by an unwavering sense of public duty. We are thrilled she has been honoured in this way.”
Sonia’s career on the railway began in 1992 and she was the first woman train driver to be based at Grove Park Depot. Since then she has worked in a number of roles in rail, and now serves as General Manager for the northern part of Southeastern’s network, which includes Southeastern’s Metro and Highspeed services (she’s affectionately known by colleagues as ‘Queen of the North’ because of her current role).
