Aspect Summer 2018

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The employee magazine of Arriva Trains Wales/Trenau Arriva Cymru

SUMMER 2018

HEARTFELT CELEBRATIONS

of historic milestone anniversary CENTRE PAGES

New franchise update PAGE THREE

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It’s people making the difference I

write this after an April and May where I have been spending almost all my time out and about across our Wales and Borders network – which has been great.

There have been a number of reasons for my extended travels.

Firstly, a key part of my role is to ensure that we are making the case for Rail to Government and community leaders.

It also involves talking about the great work that we have been doing within Arriva Trains Wales.

I’ve been making it clear that we, as a company, are all about our people and that it will be our people making the difference in the new franchise.

It’s a message that I have been taking to Ministers, Assembly Members and stakeholders – and it has definitely got through.

They know that we are really looking forward to the future and are looking forward to making the most of future investment from the Welsh Government.

It has also been great to meet with many of you and talk about the future.

In addition to my travels, we took the whole executive team on tour in May – a direct response to feedback from you in the What’s Occurring survey where you asked to have more visibility of the executive team.

We visited almost every

By Managing Director

TOM JOYNER location across our network and met literally hundreds of colleagues to answer questions and talk about anything and everything.

We continue to work in partnership with our Network Rail Wales route colleagues, albeit with some difficult challenges for all of us in 2018.

As an industry we are currently not providing as much notice of changes to train times as we might like – with Network Rail colleagues advising all Train Operating Companies that they will only be able to upload timetable systems six weeks from the date of travel, as opposed to the normal 12 weeks that we aspire to and normally deliver.

Locally, the position has been more challenging with the Great Western Electrification Programme meaning that we have been down to less than two weeks notice for our customers.

I am working with Network Rail at senior levels to improve this situation but it does mean that our customer-facing role becomes much more important.

You are able to immediately turn around a customer’s perception of us through

excellent customer service and what may have been frustration can turn into someone being really happy with our service.

I see lots of brilliant examples of that across Arriva Trains Wales – but please, let’s do more of it, particularly now.You have the ability to turn around someone’s day and leave them feeling really good about our service.

The Great Western Electrification blockades were another last-minute challenge that the Arriva Trains Wales team has dealt with in a professional and outstanding way.

Thank you to everyone who has helped – pretty much all of our people have contributed in some way, so thank you for your hard work and approach to what was a tough series of blocks.

These provided no immediate benefit to our customers but did benefit the wider public and enabled Network Rail to make progress with the problematic electrification programme.

There will be many more challenges to come in the short term in 2018 – and I thank you in advance for your hard work.

Keeping customers informed during electrification works ARRIVA Trains Wales is going the extra mile to keep customers informed during Network Rail’s essential modernisation and electrification works.

Rail replacement bus services were operated between Cardiff and Cwmbran and Newport and Cwmbran during line closures in April and May. Further closures are planned later this

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summer affecting the Ebbw Vale Line and services from Holyhead.

Blockades during the installation of overhead line equipment resulted in timetable changes which could be completed no more than five days before travel date, due to the complexity of the works.

Amended timetables were posted in

the yellow engineering work poster frames at stations and at ticket offices.

A promotional team handed out leaflets around South Wales. Radio, Facebook and Twitter advertising, together with adverts in local media, also publicised the changes.

The electrification programme is the first of its size in the UK for 20 years.

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Win £50 worth of Amazon vouchers Rhymney station at night – services to and from Valleys stations are expected to benefit from huge investment under the new franchise.

New operator has

exciting plans K

EOLISAMEY has been announced as the new operator of the Wales and Borders franchise.

The 15-year contract runs from 4 June 2018 to 14 October 2033 with rail services transferring on 14 October 2018.

KeolisAmey is a joint venture partnership of international public transport operator Keolis and infrastructure asset management specialist Amey.

Keolis, which has been in the UK since 1996 and employs 13,300 people, runs a number of transport services including Greater Manchester Metrolink, Docklands Light Railway and the high-speed rail network HS1 in

Kent. It is 70 per cent owned by SNCF, France’s state-owned railway operator.

Amey employs 19,000 people internationally with a focus on the UK. It is owned by Spanish-based Ferrovial, which is active in the sectors of construction, airports, toll roads and services.

The new franchise for the Wales and Borders Rail Service and South Wales Metro has been awarded by the Welsh Government following a lengthy procurement process.

Tom Joyner, Arriva Trains Wales Managing Director, said:“We are in the process of meeting with the delivery partner, Transport

for Wales (TfW) and the new operator to discuss their exciting plans for the future.

“The executive team and I look forward to seeing what the winning bid has in store for the Wales and Borders franchise and would encourage everyone to remain optimistic and positive about the future of rail in Wales.” ● Colleagues can keep up to date with franchise announcements via our internal communications channels and via the following websites: tfw.gov.wales and www.keolisamey.cymru.en or get in touch with any questions by emailing the team at talktous@arrivatw.co.uk

USING augmented technology to access the bonus video content in this issue of Aspect is the secret to finding the answer to the question – with the chance to win £50 worth of Amazon vouchers.

It is really quick and easy to check out the videos using the AR app.

If you do not already have the app on your mobile, simply follow the instructions at the bottom of this page.

Photographs on page four, centre pages and page 10 with the ‘scan the photo’ icon trigger video streams on to your mobile.

Remember the answer is in the video.

Q. What country was School Liaison Officer and accomplished trombonist Nichole Taylor born in?

Email your answer to katrina.tzannis@arrivatw .co.uk by Friday July 27.

The first correct entry drawn out of the hat wins the prize.

Tap into bonus content with the Arriva Trains Wales Augmented Reality (AR) app The free app, called Arriva Trains Wales AR, is available to download to smartphones and tablets from App Store and Google Play and will bring photographs to life in this magazine using the power of Augmented Reality. To access the bonus interactive video content, simply follow the three easy steps:

Download the Arriva Trains Wales AR app from App Store or Google Play.

Scan the photo on the pages where you see this AR icon.

SCAN PHOTO

TO SEE VIDEO

When the video starts double tap your screen for a full-screen view to take away.

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Tuck shop trio make donation to ambulance that helped save life of colleague A trio of conductors who run a popular tuck shop at Shrewsbury station have donated £250 to the Midlands Air Ambulance after a swift emergency response helped to save a colleague’s life.

Jon Sadler was taken seriously ill at home and subsequently suffered a cardiac arrest.

An air ambulance helicopter was scrambled to his location on the Welsh borders and he was flown to Worcestershire Royal Hospital Coronary Care Unit for treatment.

Jon, a Conductor at the station, is now on course to make a good recovery.

In response, Dominic Eaton, Richard Bennett and Paul Roach, who run the tuck shop in the station mess room, decided to donate to the life-saving organisation from their charity pot.They visited the air ambulance’s base in Cosford to present a cheque for the amount.

Money paid by users of the “everything is 50p” snackpoint has enabled the organisers to buy comfy loungers and cushions for the quiet room as well as generate funds for a range of charities.

Dominic said:“Due to the swift response of the Midlands Air Ambulance and the staff at the hospital’s coronary care unit, Jon pulled through and hopes to make a good recovery.

“We decided to donate £250 to the air ambulance because of the swift response and because, as an organisation, it covers such a huge area with just three helicopters.”

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TO SEE VIDEO

At Seat Catering Operations and Account Manager Phil Jones with a trolly filled with Welsh produce at Newport station. Below, At Seat Catering Supervisor Carol McCann at Chester station with a selection of tasty produce including Welsh cakes.

Welsh magic cast on catering trollies A

portion of Welsh magic has been sprinkled on to Arriva Trains Wales’ catering trolleys.

The range of food and drink served by At Seat Catering has been boosted by the addition of locally-sourced produce.

In addition to the Bara Brith and Welsh Cakes which have been enticing customers for some time, new Welsh drinks are now on offer.

Dywi Sant Gin, Welsh craft beer, fizzy pop, from the long-established Lowes soft drinks manufacturer in Cardiff and Brecon Carreg Water are all available, as well as vegan-friendly nuts and Hippeas organic crisps.

Tregroes Waffles are sourced from a family-run bakery in the Teifi Valley in South-west Wales.

“We are a Welsh company and we appreciate that our customers from Wales and further afield really like home-grown products,” said At Seat Catering General Manager Mike Brown.

Products offered have been updated and refreshed following

feedback from customers as the At Seat Catering Team constantly looks to keep up with the latest popular products coming to market.

The service is also reducing its carbon footprint by offering customers the choice of having their hot drink served in their own cup or mug, as long as it has a lid.

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By Human Resources Director GARETH J. THOMAS

Winners set to inherit business in great shape

Resource Manager Darren Haynes at St Mary’s House.

Darren is a lifesaver

for second time D

ARREN Haynes has saved a customer’s life on the platforms at Cardiff Central – for the SECOND time.

Four years ago the Resource Manager received a Royal Humane Society award for giving CPR to a heart attack sufferer on Platform 7.

Now he is in line for a further accolade after coming to the rescue of another potential victim by using a defibrillator on Platform 3.

On both occasions Darren was putting into practice First Aid training that he had received at Arriva Trains Wales. Relatives of both victims contacted him afterwards to praise him for saving the life of their loved one.

Darren said:“When I took the Arriva First Aid course four years ago, never did I think in a million years I would save one, let alone two lives.

“It’s uncanny the way it has happened again – I had not long previously completed a

First Aid refresher course.” In the latest incident Darren was on duty in the Resource Office when he was alerted to a man in his sixties in the waiting room at Platform 3 who was suffering a heart attack.

He rushed over to collect the defibrillator and administered CPR on the customer bringing him back round and continuing to resuscitate him for 35 minutes until the paramedics arrived.

Nominating him for a Spotlight Award, Station Support Officer Mark Waters said: “Without Darren’s help the customer would not have pulled through. When the paramedics arrived the customer was still alive and this was due to Darren’s efforts.”

As well as the Royal Humane Society accolade awarded four years ago by the British Transport Police, Darren also received a commendation at the National Rail Awards in the “lifesaver” category.

WE now know that KeolisAmey have won the competition to operate the Wales and Borders rail franchise.

They will be inheriting a business which is in great shape – a business that genuinely cares about the people and communities it serves and is proud to have been in a position to do so for the last 15 years.

The change that is likely to come our way has been much anticipated and will undoubtedly bring much-needed investment in our network.

Our recent whistle stop tour of the network reinforced to the Executive how great our people are, which is why over the coming months my team will be working hard to ensure that your transfer to the new operator goes as smoothly as possible.

Whilst there is much to be positive and optimistic about for the railway in Wales, managing a TUPE transfer often creates some nervousness and uncertainty amongst people.

Rest assured that the legislation is there to protect your terms and conditions and ensure that you can continue to do your jobs without the worry of what happens to you when a new operator takes over the contract.

Many of you have been through this before, some more than once, and whilst it is more than “just a change of uniform,” we will manage the transfer so there is as little disruption to your working life as possible.

There will be much more communication with you about this in the coming months as we get closer to the franchise handover in October but do feel free to get in touch with us at talktous@arrivatw.co.uk if you have any questions or concerns on the topic.

We have achieved a lot over the last four years both operationally and culturally and whatever changes lie ahead I am in no doubt that we have the people here to manage it professionally for the people and communities we serve.

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Conductor Jo Murch-Williams and Driver David Roberts who work on the Heart of Wales Line.

TO SEE VIDEO

Husband and wife Station Adopters Steve and Elsbeth Vipond tend to floral borders at the award winning Dolau station.

Arriva Trains Wales Stakeholder Liaison Manager Ben Davies by the distinctive station sign at delightful Dolau.

Idyllic rural route has captured

many hearts in Wales T

HE history and unique scenery of the Heart of Wales line have both been highlighted in the year of its 150th anniversary celebrations.

The rural route from Shrewsbury via Llandrindod Wells to Swansea, which has been described one of the UK’s most attractive, was completed in 1868.

Originally constructed in separate sections to carry freight from the coalfields of South Wales, the line later became a vital rural lifeline linking mid-Wales and points north.

During World War One it transported soldiers – but nowadays its value is as a gateway to rural delights appreciated by walkers and sightseers alike.

When the Beeching axe fell in 1963 the line was saved from extinction by the fact that it still carried freight.

Scenic highlights include views of the Radnor Forest, the Sugar Loaf – southernmost summit of the Black Mountains – and the picturesque Tywi Valley near

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Carmarthen. A little-known aspect of the line (to non-railway people at least) is the so-called No Signalman Remote system on the five sections where the line goes into loops.

With overall supervision from a signalman down the line in Pantyffynnon, token instruments are operated by the traincrew.

Arriva Trains Wales laid on a special train to celebrate the anniversary and festivities were held at both ends of the line, with large crowds present.

At Shrewsbury, where, traditional Morris Dancing entertained an impromptu audience on the platform, Arriva Trains Wales Managing Director Tom Joyner praised the work of station adopters and volunteers along the much-loved line.

As the celebration train swept south-westwards, poetry-reading and music entertained passengers.

The travellers were met at Swansea by an official delegation as the Morriston Orpheus Choir performed a medley of popular songs and hymns.

The historic Llandrindod Wells station. Inset left, an idyllic rural setting with the famous Knucklas Viaduct in the background.

Above, Heart of Wales Line Development Manager Rachel Francis who is pictured on the front cover with brochures commemorating the 150th anniversary.

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Conductor Jo Murch-Williams and Driver David Roberts who work on the Heart of Wales Line.

TO SEE VIDEO

Husband and wife Station Adopters Steve and Elsbeth Vipond tend to floral borders at the award winning Dolau station.

Arriva Trains Wales Stakeholder Liaison Manager Ben Davies by the distinctive station sign at delightful Dolau.

Idyllic rural route has captured

many hearts in Wales T

HE history and unique scenery of the Heart of Wales line have both been highlighted in the year of its 150th anniversary celebrations.

The rural route from Shrewsbury via Llandrindod Wells to Swansea, which has been described one of the UK’s most attractive, was completed in 1868.

Originally constructed in separate sections to carry freight from the coalfields of South Wales, the line later became a vital rural lifeline linking mid-Wales and points north.

During World War One it transported soldiers – but nowadays its value is as a gateway to rural delights appreciated by walkers and sightseers alike.

When the Beeching axe fell in 1963 the line was saved from extinction by the fact that it still carried freight.

Scenic highlights include views of the Radnor Forest, the Sugar Loaf – southernmost summit of the Black Mountains – and the picturesque Tywi Valley near

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ASPECT Summer 2018

Carmarthen. A little-known aspect of the line (to non-railway people at least) is the so-called No Signalman Remote system on the five sections where the line goes into loops.

With overall supervision from a signalman down the line in Pantyffynnon, token instruments are operated by the traincrew.

Arriva Trains Wales laid on a special train to celebrate the anniversary and festivities were held at both ends of the line, with large crowds present.

At Shrewsbury, where, traditional Morris Dancing entertained an impromptu audience on the platform, Arriva Trains Wales Managing Director Tom Joyner praised the work of station adopters and volunteers along the much-loved line.

As the celebration train swept south-westwards, poetry-reading and music entertained passengers.

The travellers were met at Swansea by an official delegation as the Morriston Orpheus Choir performed a medley of popular songs and hymns.

The historic Llandrindod Wells station. Inset left, an idyllic rural setting with the famous Knucklas Viaduct in the background.

Above, Heart of Wales Line Development Manager Rachel Francis who is pictured on the front cover with brochures commemorating the 150th anniversary.

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New data regulation is now in force

By Customer Services Director BETHAN JELFS

COLLEAGUES are being reminded that the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is now in force.

Staff are being asked to complete an online Information Security and Data Protection course which has been specially updated for GDPR. The mandatory course

is designed to help people understand customer and employee personal information and how it should be handled.

People can access the learning materials and via the Arriva Learning Portal by logging in using their Arriva Trains Wales email address and password.

Gearing up to rise to the challenges of a busy summer AS I write this column we are gearing up for an extremely busy summer on the events front. With music star Ed Sheeran appearing at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and Llandudno hosting the UK’s Armed Forces Day our services are going to be heavily in demand.

I am confident that we will once again deliver a great experience, going the extra mile to deliver our usual high-quality customer service.

I witnessed first-hand our people’s dedication and outstanding levels of commitment as I went round the network on the Executive’s Wales & Borders tour. It was a great opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues with frontline colleagues, and answer questions along the way.

As we move towards the new franchise, with KeolisAmey the new operators, customer service and what we provide to customers will continue to be paramount.

Best-in-class levels of service will be vital in a new era that will redouble the focus on the needs of transport users throughout the Wales and Borders network. The communities that we serve will be centre-stage – and I was pleased to see how our recent adopter conferences developed this theme.

The conferences have helped us drive a wide range of improvements through community schemes and the efforts of those adopters, many who are employees and their family members, are genuinely appreciated.

The final NRPS results for this franchise have been released and these are results from Spring of 2018. During the research period we experienced again high levels of disruptive incidents to our services.

Finally, at this time of significant change I will do all I can to keep you in the loop regarding ongoing developments throughout the next couple of months.

However, please get in touch if you have any queries or concerns and thanks again for continuing to deliver the great service we quite rightly want our customers to receive.

You can ask any questions by emailing talktous@arrivatw.co.uk

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Internal Communications Manager Katrina Tzannis reads through Health and Wellbeing information that is always accessible.

Expert support is readily available A

RRIVA Trains Wales people were reminded during Stress Awareness Month that support for mental health issues is readily available.

The awareness-raising initiative followed feedback from colleagues in the Employee Survey that they wanted more focus on health and wellbeing at work.

Employee bulletins during the month highlighted the way in which the Employee Assistance Programme provided by the company in partnership with Health Assured can help with personal problems.

The EAP programme is intended to assist with a range of issues including the stress that flows from difficulties in balancing the pressures of work with the needs of home and personal life. The free and entirely confidential service is available 24/7 and it can be reached by phoning 0800 716 017.

Kim Wright, Train Dispatcher at Newport, said: “I found the Employee Assistance Programme really useful. I received six free sessions of telephone counselling for mental health issues.

“Face-to-face sessions were also an option – I would advise my colleagues to use the service for support and advice.”

Access can also be made through an online portal which offers a wide range of advice and material.

Simply visit www.healthassuredeap.com using “arrivatw” as both username and password. As well as for stress, employees can contact the service regarding family issues, lifestyle addictions and financial advice.

Management pocketbooks on mental health are also available on the staff intranet.

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CSA Katie’s mum sings at station to boost fundraising K

ATIE Mitchell knew exactly who to turn to when she wanted an added boost for her station’s St David’s Day celebrations – her mum!

The Customer Services Advisor – who recently joined the staff at Rhyl – drew on family talent to drum up support for the collection on the platform.

Her mum Wendy Eastwood is a professional country and folk singer and she was only too happy to oblige.

Wendy took up a position by the cake stand, wearing a Wales T-shirt, and entertained the customers with her varied repertoire.

The station resounded to her rendition of the Welsh national anthem and country and western gems such as Jolene as she helped inspire travellers to contribute £150 towards a station defibrillator.

“My mum is a really good singer and her appearance was a real success,” said Katie.“I helped to raise funds myself by dressing as a daffodil, baking cakes and helping with the stall.”

Katie was recently recommended for a Spotlight award by Station Supervisor Jacqui Small, who was alongside her on the cake stall.

“She shows so much enthusiasm and

Katie Mitchell and her mum Wendy Eastwood who sang to customers at Rhyl station on St David’s Day. passion in her role as customer service advisor,” said Jacqui.

“At Halloween she volunteered to dress up the station and handed out sweets to children, and on another occasion she engaged with customers during a Samaritans

Duo’s charity cycling marathon MIKE Tapscott, Projects Director, and Steve Morris, Duty Control Manager are gearing up for a gruelling nine-day charity bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats in September.

Mike has only recently been given the all-clear by his surgeon after being on crutches for six months following a second operation in as many years on his leg.

“My motivation is my sister Angela, who worked tirelessly to give opportunities to all young people regardless of their background until she lost her life in 2016 to bowel cancer at the age of 51,” he said.

Mike and his friend Jim want to give

something back to what Angela believed in and are raising money for the Prince’s Trust.

Steve is fund-raising jointly for MS Society with his friend and co-rider Russell Evans.

“Unfortunately we both have friends, relatives and colleagues who have to cope with this disease,” he said.

■ To donate please go to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ Team/MikeyAndJimboLEJOG or visit https://www.justgiving.com/ Russell-and-Steve

brew day on the platforms.” Katie’s mum is well-known for touring with her acoustic guitar on the folk club circuit in North Wales where she is known as the “Queen of Country”. Famed for her country ballads, she also sings jazz and blues.

Mike, left, and Jim take a break from training for the cycling challenge.

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Five

TO SEE VIDEO

minutes with Nichole Taylor Nichole, new School Liaison Officer based at Machynlleth, takes time out to tell Aspect about her membership of the Army Reserve and her love of music.

Nichole Taylor with her trombone at Machynlleth station.

What are you doing at the moment?

As School Liaison Officer it is my role to work with Ysgol Uwchradd Tywyn and Ysgol Ardydwy, Harlech. I would like to engage with the members of both schools, encouraging them to travel safely and with respect. I plan to set up a transport committee within the schools, offering incentives for good behaviour, and also peer mentoring schemes. I feel it’s my job to make the conductors’ role easier.

What was your previous career path?

I have an honours degree in Environmental Engineering from Nottingham University.

Before taking my Arriva Trains Wales post I worked for Ysgol Bro Hyddgen in Machynlleth, in several roles including Senior Science Technician. When I became a member of the Army Reserve I underwent basic training before specialising as an Army Reserve and Army Cadet Force Musician, playing my trombone.

What is the most unusual thing that has happened in your working career?

My unit in the Army Reserve was forming up to ‘slow troop’ out of Buckingham Palace. Police officers swung open the gates…

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and we saw there were thousands of people out there, extending as far as the eye could see. I had to pinch myself.

How do you relax?

My two passions are music and the great outdoors. I play my trombone and pursue my other hobby of cycling – I am a coach for British Cycling. I also like to go walking and climbing mountains.

Which famous people alive or dead would you invite to a dinner party?

Authors: Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett.

Musicians: David Bowie, Carol Jarvis (high-profile trombonist). Composers: Nigel Hess, Ennio Morricone. Sportspersons: Laura Kenny, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sir Steve Redgrave. Scientist: Brian Cox. What are your favourite books and films?

I like reading books in a series – Lord of the Rings, the Wheel of Time fantasy novels and the Discworld comic fantasy books. My favourite films are The Greatest Showman, Starlight and Pirates of the Caribbean – anything that gets you involved in a sense of adventure.

Author Douglas Adams, cyclist Laura Kenny and Hugh Jackman in The Greatest Showman.

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What is your most valuable possession?

My trombone and my bikes.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A mounted soldier in the Blues and Royals and then a vet.

If you could go back in time what period would you choose and why?

No particular period – but I would like to have witnessed influential people and events such as the Suffragette movement, Martin Luther King’s famous speech, the early explorers and the first ascent of Everest.

What is the best bit of advice you have ever been given and by whom?

You can only give 100 per cent to others if you make sure you have 100 per cent – so look after yourself to ensure you are useful to others.

What is your favourite place of all?

At the top of mountains, in places of natural beauty and peace. I love the mountains of Scotland, Wales, Andorra and Slovakia.

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Praise via Yammer THE GEM colleague recognition scheme has been introduced in response to feedback in the employee survey asking for extra ways of recognising efforts at work.

It is a simple and informal way of recognising people who go the extra mile – via Yammer. GEM provides a great way to highlight or thank colleagues for providing great customer service or lending a hand.

The initiative makes use of Yammer’s inbuilt praise function which can be accessed from either desktop or mobile phone, and please use #GEM.

Operations and Safety Director Martyn Brennan talks with Customer Service Advisor Lynda Ogden at Chester station as part of the whistle stop tour. Below Martyn with Commercial Director Chris Williams, left, and Interim Production Director Keith Winder.

Executive tour has

mutual benefits T

HE Executive team embarked on a whistle stop tour of the Wales and Borders network during May. They launched the initiative in direct response to feedback in the What’s Occurring survey.

Colleagues requested more visibility of the executive – so they made themselves available at stations from West Wales to the Valleys and from the Cambrian Line to the Marches.

Visiting almost every location and meeting hundreds of colleagues the team answered questions and discussed a range of issues.

“The engagement with staff was invaluable,” said Operations and Safety Director Martyn Brennan during his visit to Chester station.

“Our colleagues were extremely welcoming throughout the tour. Many of their questions concerned the new franchise and the timing of new rolling stock.”

Acid attack guidelines ARRIVA Trains Wales people are being asked to follow set guidelines issued by the NHS in the event of an acid attack.

Burns caused by acid, alkaline or caustic chemicals can be very damaging and need urgent medical attention – so the first step is to report the attack by dialling 999.

Anyone going to the aid of a victim should then remove contaminated clothing carefully and rinse skin immediately with running water.

Exemplary conduct

Chris Williams, Interim Commercial Director, said:“We were happy to answer any questions and listen to any concerns.

“It’s been absolutely brilliant,

a great chance to talk to staff and find out what is going on in their area.

“Hopefully we have been able to allay some of people’s anxieties around the new franchise.”

CANDICE Finney, Train Dispatcher at Chester, was nominated for a Spotlight Award in the Employee Experience Category for assisting a Driver following a suicide attempt on the line.

She stayed with him to make sure he was alright and also showed great professionalism in assisting customers who had witnessed the traumatic event.

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Ongoing response to feedback

CYCLING TO STAY FIT: Valleys Lines Conductor Sean Bevan on his bike he bought through the Arriva Cycle to Work scheme.

S

PORTS enthusiasts across the network are making the most of Arriva Trains Wales’ Health and Wellbeing initiatives.

Many keen cyclists are entering events supported by the company.

Arriva is sponsoring the 140 kilometer distance in the Velothon Wales, which follows traffic-free roads taking in breathtaking scenery, starting outside Cardiff and taking in Usk, Blaenavon, Pontypool and Caerphilly.

The Welsh communities who

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line the route in their thousands in support of the 12,000 cyclists are guaranteed to help deliver an inspiring atmosphere.

Ian Reiffer, Operations Assurance Manager, is organising a fifth Tour de Arriva Trains Wales from Chester to the South.

The charity cycle ride raises money for Oaklands, a centre that provides parents and carers of children with disabilities some much-needed respite.

In previous rides the entrants have tackled climbs of more than 17,000 feet during the journey.

For a £50 contribution towards the event, participants will cover 221 miles over three days.

The Arriva Trains Wales Running Club is facilitating a series of 10K events in North and South locations with places sponsored by the company.

Communications Officer Emily Harris said:“This year there are a range of activities that people can get involved with in their quest to stay fit and healthy.

“Arriva Trains Wales is pleased to support passionate and proud colleagues in this venture.”

COLLEAGUES are being kept informed about the ongoing response to What’s Occurring feedback in several ways.

A series of booklets has been distributed to all depots and locations answering questions posed by employees during the survey, on a number of topics across the business.

The booklets, which include an edition specially dedicated to Questions to the Directors, were highlighted during their Whistle Stop tour of the network.

Small three-fold leaflets are also being issued highlighting the statistical results in What’s Occurring, and a page has been set up on the intranet highlighting actions taken in response to feedback.

Skittlers win two medals TWO teams of indoor skittlers have scooped top medals in a tournament organised by Network Rail.

The skittlers, led by Operations Assurance Manager Neil Driscoll, won Gold and Bronze accolades after matches involving 10 sides in the Grange Pub in Cardiff.The event was organised in support of the Velindre Cancer Centre, a specialist treatment centre on the edge of Cardiff.

The Grange community pub in the centre of Grangetown has recently been re-launched featuring an old-style skittles alley.

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IF you have a story for Aspect please contact Internal Communications Manager Katrina Tzannis by emailing katrina.tzannis@arrivatw.co.uk or call 02920 720687.