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22/3/17
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Five minutes with Michael David Michael, aged 25, has taken up a permanent position in Control after completing his apprenticeship at Arriva Trains Wales. Here he takes time out to tell us about himself.
What are you doing at the moment? After completing my Operations Apprenticeship, I have recently been appointed as a Customer Support Controller. I am required to communicate service alterations to the public and staff as well as sourcing replacement road transport during disruption whilst adhering to CSL2 (Customer Service Level 2) and PIDD Customer (Passenger Information During Disruption) Support Controller standards. It can be very intense, especially Michael David at when an event such as Storm Doris occurs! his desk in Control But on the whole it’s very enjoyable. at St Mary’s House. How did you become interested in working for a rail company? My uncle has worked on the railway for more and convince them to restart Oasis. I’d throw than 20 years and kept on at me to apply. He in Ricky Tomlinson, Caroline Aherne and has always said how enjoyable his job is and Craig Cash for the laughs. how good the opportunities are to progress and form an excellent career. I saw the How do you relax? apprenticeship advertised and chanced my arm. The rest is history. I love playing golf and try to get out on the course at least three times a week during the summer. I’m currently playing off a handicap What was the best thing about your of 14. To relax, I enjoy playing the guitar or apprenticeship with Arriva Trains Wales? playing on the PlayStation. I was incredibly lucky that I was able to spend time with various different functions What did you want to be when you were including Stations and Drivers which gave me a good railway grounding. I’d say the best growing up? I always wanted to be a professional football thing was the development days with the player as all young boys do. At Christmas, a other apprentices from around the business. Manchester United kit was always top of the It allowed us to share our experiences and list. offer advice to each other. Which famous people alive or dead would you invite to a dinner party? I’d have to say Liam and Noel Gallagher because once the fighting stopped, I’d try
What are your favourite music and films? Music: Oasis, Stereophonics, Catfish and the Bottlemen. Films: Starsky and Hutch, Happy Gilmore, Shawshank Redemption.
If you could go back in time what period would you choose to go back to and why? Definitely the Seventies! Apparently you could go on a night out with £10, have four or five pints, a curry and still come home with change! Not sure about the platform boots and hairdos mind! What is your most valuable possession? I don’t own anything that valuable so probably my car. What is your favourite place in the world? Sequoia National Park. I spent a weekend in a log cabin there when I coached “soccer” in California. It was absolutely incredible. What’s the best bit of advice you have ever been given? “Treat other people how you would like to be treated” – courtesy of my mother.
Campaign promotes low cost advance purchase tickets A leisure-themed media campaign was launched during March to showcase Arriva Trains Wales’ low cost Advance Purchase tickets. The message to potential customers was:“Save up to 49 per cent on what’s important to you.” The campaign enthused people to
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ASPECT Spring 2017
visit faraway friends and places, go on family outings, to football and festivals – all using the value-for-money offer on longer distance journeys. The publicity drive included radio sequences, press advertisements, online and social media posts and posters.
Tickets are available from 12 weeks before travel, up to 6pm the day before the journey. The campaign was designed to support Arriva Trains Wales’ Purpose of “Connecting people and communities to what is important to them”.