FirstGroup’s Train Operating Companies scooped six awards at this year’s Rail Business Awards including the top prize of Rail Business of the Year, which went to First ScotRail. The annual awards, held last night at London’s Hilton Park Lane Hotel, celebrate excellence and achievement in the UK rail industry.
The night proved particularly successful for First ScotRail who not only landed the top award of Rail Business of the Year but also won in the Train Operator and Sustainability Excellence categories. Judges were impressed by First ScotRail’s improvements in a wide range of areas – including performance and punctuality, smart ticketing, integrated travel, safety, and limiting the impact of disruption upon its customers. First ScotRail was also praised for delivering the largest ever roll out of free Wi-Fi on UK railways, tackling anti-social behaviour with its pioneering evening alcohol ban and using innovative schemes such as wind turbines, solar panels and eco-friendly trains to reduce their carbon footprint.
First Capital Connect won the Internal Communications Excellence award for their employee engagement programme, launched last year and placed at the heart of their business improvement work. They also received a Highly Commended award for Sustainability Excellence for continued commitment to deliver high levels of environmental performance through innovative ways of working.
First Great Western also won last night as Nick Reid, Station Manager, received the Young Professional award. Through his leadership, the stations he manages in Wiltshire repeatedly meet demanding performance targets. His was praised by the judges for managing stations successfully whilst going through a period of refurbishment, as well as through events including the Glastonbury Festival. This is testament to the excellent relations he has built with local authorities and the local community.
Commenting on the awards, Vernon Barker, FirstGroup’s UK Rail Managing Director said:
“We were delighted to receive six Rail Business Awards last night. These national awards are down to the hard work of the 13,500 people across FirstGroup’s rail division and we remain focused on continuing to build on this success.
'I'd particularly like to congratulate Steve Montgomery and his team on receiving the Rail Business of the Year award. We are proud to operate Scotland's railway and the important role we play connecting people and communities, and look forward to developing further our customer service offering.'
ENDS