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Introduction
Judges
Steve Agg – chairman of the judges
Chief Executive, CILT UK
Rachel Bennett
HR consultant, Keolis
Ed Robinson
Sales manager, Electro Motive Diesel
Sarah de Brion
Train4change
Ed Wells
Head of assurance, Tube Lines
Anthony Smith
Chief executive, Passenger Focus
Roy Campbell
Marketing segment manager, IBM
Paul Brasington
Freelance writer
Alan Marshalll
Editorial director, Railnews
Chris Wilson
Rail freight policy advisor,
Department of Transport
Mark Hughes
Regional manager, Interfleet Technology
Tony King
Director, Jacobs
Edward Funnell
Communications consultant
Sanjay Mistry
PR consultant, PR Ltd
Alan Whitehouse
Transport correspondent, BBC
David Hatcher
Managing director, Promise Development
Peter Plisner
BBC transport correspondent and
Rail Professional contributor
Paul Clifton
BBC transport correspondent and
Rail Professional contributor
Dinner raises £7,000
for charity
Dominic Booth
Dominic Booth gave a speech on the
RBA’s chosen charity, the Railway Benefit
Fund, before playing a short film that
showcased the charity’s good work with
two of the rail industry employees it has
helped in recent years. Booth, managing
director of Abellio UK, is chairman of
the charity.
The Railway Benefit Fund is the
railway’s own charity – it is an independent
organisation set up in 1858 to look after
those working, and those who have
worked, in the rail industry, along with
their dependents. The RBF provides wideranging
financial assistance, practical help
and advice to thousands of people to enable
them to cope with problems of all kinds.
Assistance includes helping disabled
people with the cost of powered vehicles
and providing them with mobility aids;
helping with the cost of a convalescent
or respite break following an operation
or period of illness; child care grants to
help with the cost of higher education,
equipment, school clothing and the like;
and covering shortfalls in funeral expenses.
Every year, the RBF gives around
£500,000 in assistance. But it is a charity
where even small amounts of money can
make an enormous difference to the lives
of people for whom events have taken a
difficult turn.
Envelopes were collected from the
tables at the Rail Business Awards dinner,
raising £6,937.28 for the charity, which will
increase further with the addition of
Gift Aid.
Train operator, station and business manager
awards go to TransPennine Express
First TransPennine Express (FTPE) was
named the Train Operator of the Year
at the Rail Business Awards, in the face
of stiff competition, with what judges
described as an ‘impressive’ entry.
The Toc, which began its franchise term
in 2004, has improved punctuality and
reliability, with more than 93 per cent of
services running on time over the last year. It
has been given a franchise extension to 2015.
Managing director Nick Donovan said:
‘We are all really delighted to be named the
best train operator in the country.’
He continued: ‘I want to thank our 1,000-
strong team for their continued dedication
to delivering great service every day. We
are continuing to work to respond to
increasing customer expectations, especially
in planning for additional capacity that we
hope to deliver across our network as part of
the wider industry strategy in the north.’
FTPE also collected two other awards,
with Warrington Central being named
Station of the Year and head of on-board
services Steve Lee being awarded Rail
Business Manager of the Year.
Lee, 36, has led his 300-strong team of
conductors to improved performance and
levels of satisfaction.
He said: ‘I am absolutely thrilled to have
been chosen as the Rail Business Manager of
the Year. It is a great honour.
‘I try to focus on two things – my staff
and the impact they are having on FTPE’s
customers.’
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