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NEWS I Industry
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Young Railway Professionals’ Dinner and Award l The Young Railway Professionals celebrated their fourth annual Black Tie Dinner on March 14th, together with the presentation of the first ever Young Railway Professional of the Year Award. Guests enjoyed hearing Terry Morgan, chairman of Crossrail speak about his experiences as a young man working his way into the rail industry, and newly elected YRP chairman Martyn Chymera spoke of the YRP’s exciting plans for the coming year. The event, sponsored by CPC Project Services, brings together young professionals who are making their mark on the industry, and was well attended by 400 guests from all corners of the rail market. With so much evidence of young talent in the room, the evening provided a natural backdrop from which to present the first Young Railway Professional of the Year Award. The award, sponsored by Colas Rail, was designed to celebrate young professionals at the start of their journey through the rail industry, and competition was fierce.
Merseytravel appoints new chief executive
(L-R) Charles-Albert Giral, CEO of Colas Rail; Lucy McAuliffe, YRP Award Winner; Martyn Chymera, YRP chairman; Shauni O’Neill, Award Finalist; Tim Whitcher, Award Finalist Nominations were collected during the lead up to the event, and were whittled down to three finalists – Lucy McAuliffe of Network Rail, Tim Whitcher of CAPBROWN Consulting and Shaunie O’Neill of London Underground. The finalists were all very worthy candidates, but after lengthy deliberation the panel of judges decided that the first award would be presented to Lucy McAuliffe. Charles-Albert Giral, CEO of Colas Rail presented the award. The judges felt that Lucy was a deserving winner thanks to her unerring dedication to the industry. Whether in her position as a station manager for Network Rail managing a 150-strong team at St Pancras, Ebbsfleet International and Stratford stations, in her additional work as an assessor for Network Rail’s Track and Train graduate programme, or through her passion for the improvement of customer service and team work on the front line, Lucy is a driving force pushing forward projects that benefit not only people working within the industry, but also its customers. For more information about the Young Railway Professionals, or the Young Railway Professional of the Year Award, visit www.youngrailwayprofessionals.org
l Merseytravel has appointed a ‘pioneering’ new chief executive/ director general. David Brown, who currently heads South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, will shortly be taking the helm at Merseytravel – the organisation responsible for transport throughout the city region. He has been involved in the adoption by the Department for Transport of major rail projects such as a High Speed Rail station in South Yorkshire, and commitment to electrification of the Midland Main Line and to £230 million investment in improving journey times on the East Coast Main Line. He has also led the largest Bus Partnership in the UK, and is chair of the Passenger Transport Executive Group, which promotes the interests of the six Passenger Transport Executives.
Most improved railways l Britain’s railways are the most improved in Europe, according to the most comprehensive comparison study yet published of the rail networks in all 27 EU countries. The report looks at how the railways in Europe have progressed and improved since the 1990s according to a range of 14 different factors. Britain came top in four of the factors, second and third in another two and fourth in three, coming top overall. Europe’s other big rail networks – Germany, France and Italy – came 7th, 10th and 23rd respectively. The study can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/kallas/headlines/news/2013/01/doc/swd(2013)-10-part3.pdf
www.railwaystrategies.co.uk
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