Media centre

Monday 11 Apr 2005

PASSENGERS THE REAL WINNERS: GREAT NORTHERN TRAIN SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS WIN AWARD

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

| Southern

Dramatic improvements to train performance on the Great Northern route, which serves Wagn trains into Kings Cross and Moorgate, have been commended at the London Transport Awards 2005, where Wagn and Network Rail have been awarded the accolade of Transport Team of the Year. The award recognises the success of the recent ‘Tracking Our Progress’ campaign, which saw Wagn and Network Rail working in partnership to cut delays and raise on-time train performance on the route from 77% to 90% in just one year. Wagn’s Route Director, James Adeshiyan, said: “We are delighted to win this prestigious prize that acknowledges the major dividends for customers that come from a new practical cooperation between track and train operators. For us, it has set of pattern of working that we will pursue. Thanks to this, the improvements have been maintained: the latest official figures show that Wagn remains in the top three London commuter operators for peak punctuality and reliability.” Graham Botham, Network Rail Area General Manager, said: “Passengers are the real winners of this award, which recognises the vast improvements in train performance on the Great Northern route.  We are thrilled to have been able to deliver these results for passengers, in partnership with Wagn, by identifying the key obstacles on the route and working together to find a solution.  This is also evidence of Network Rail’s commitment to rebuilding Britain’s railway.”  Success was achieved as a result of intensive track improvement work and the implementation of more efficient working practices.  Network Rail invested £16 million into the infrastructure, renewing over 5 miles of track, replacing sections of the overhead power line and installing 22 new sets of points at Welwyn Garden City.  Stabilisation work was also carried out to the track and embankments on the Hertford Loop, to prevent earth movements. Major staff performance campaigns were introduced within both companies, to drive home the importance of the rail industry’s promise.  Daily meetings were held to monitor progress and deal with issues before they arose.  Wagn also made train modifications to ensure swifter service and ensured more drivers were available, to avoid staffing delays.  Passengers were kept updated with a series of leaflets which were issued to outline the commitments that had been made to bring about radical change and the actions that were being taken to achieve this.  Lessons learnt from this partnership are already being developed with other train operating companies, with a view to delivering improved train performance on other routes and in other parts of the country.