TPExpress August 2017

TPEXPRESS rth u o F ion t i d E

OUR JOURNEY

Your FREE newspaper from TransPennine Express

| TAKING THE NORTH FURTHER | CONNECTING PEOPLE AND PLACES

BRIGHTER, BIGGER, BETTER:

Standard Class

First Class

OUR MODERN MAKEOVER IS UNDERWAY

Full story on page 2

INSIDE

A DAY WITH DOUGIE

FOOD LOVER?

A day in the life of Dougie, a conductor on the beautiful Manchester Airport to Glasgow route

Get yourself to Malton – Yorkshire’s Food Capital

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PAGE 11

TAKING THE NORTH FURTHER

HOW ARE WE DOING?

Newcastle Station

2018 - 2020

2016

Improved catering provisions throughout 2016

2016

EARLY 2017

Trains to Dundee, Perth, Aberdeen and Inverness

Free Wi-Fi at all 19 TPE stations

Edinburgh

Trains to Dundee, Perth, Aberdeen and Inverness Glasgow Queen Street

Refurbishment starts on existing trains to ‘like new’ standard

2017

Haymarket

Dunbar

2017-2019

Glasgow Central Motherwell Berwick-upon-Tweed

Carstairs Kilmarnock

Liverpool-Newcastle ser extended to Edinburgh

Ayr

Trains to Stranraer

Alnmouth

Morpeth

Lockerbie Dumfries

Newcastle

Hexham

2019

Stranraer

Carlisle

Sunderland

Chester-le-Street Durham

2017

Penrith North Lakes

Workington

Bishop Auckland

Stockton

Darlington

Middlesbrough Thornaby Yarm

Oxenholme Lake District

Northallerton

Scarborough Seamer

Thirsk

Grange-over-Sands

Bridlington

Lancaster Harrogate

York

Skipton Ilkley Clitheroe

Colne

Beverley Bradford Forster Square Bradford Interchange

Burnley

Preston

Leeds

Halifax

Garforth

Howden

South Milford

Wakefield Westgate

Wakefield Kirkgate

St Helens

Widnes

Trains to Llandudno and Holyhead Chester

Wigan Wallgate

Newton -leSt Helens Willows Junction

Warrington Bank Quay Runcorn

Bolton

Manchester Victoria Oxford Road

Stalybridge

Barnetby

Crowle Althorpe

Scunthorpe

Doncaster

Dore & Totley

Trains to Derby, Nottingham and London St. Pancras

Trains to Peterborough and London Kings Cross

Lincoln

2018

Customer Experience Improvements Network Rail Projects

LATE 2017

Mobile tickets on all TPE routes

Six TPE trains an hour between Manchester and Leeds

Habrough

Grimsby Town Cleethorpes

Conisbrough Rotherham

Meadowhall Chinley

Trains to Trains to Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Trains to Birmingham New Street Birmingham New Street Crewe, and London Euston Birmingham New Street and London Euston and London Euston

PAGE 6-7 @tpexpresstrains

Thorne South Hatfield & Stainforth Kirk Sandall

Barnsley

Manchester Piccadilly Stockport

Hull

Barton-on-Humber

Mexborough

Irlam

Birchwood Warrington Central Manchester Airport

Brough

Goole

Rochdale

Wigan North Western

Ormskirk

Kirkby

Liverpool Central Lime Street

Rail services operated by TransPennine Express

Gilberdyke

Castleford

Dewsbury

Huddersfield

Selby

Cross Gates

Blackburn

Chorley

Southport

Liverpool South Parkway Key:

Timetable

A standardised timetab meaning a ‘weekday’ se seven days a week

Malton Morecambe Heysham Port

Blackpool North Blackpool South

KEEP UPDATED AT TPEXPRESS.CO.UK

Manchester Airport-York service extended to New

Whitby

Grosmont Windermere

Barrow-in-Furness

Rail services operated by other train companies Airport

Operate a direct Liverp Glasgow service

Hartlepool

Whitehaven

Major investment in mobile and smart ticketing

Fleet

Brand new state-of-the-a carriages and trains

2020

JUL 2018 On board entertainment system on all trains

LATE 2017

Ordsall Chord Viaduct, helping to ease congestion by connecting Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria and Manchester Oxford Road

Manchester Picc

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TAKING THE NORTH FURTHER

BRIGHTER, BIGGER, BETTER Written by Jack Kempf

OUR MODERN MAKEOVER IS UNDERWAY

The new Standard Class

TransPennine Express (TPE) have launched their first upgraded train as part of an overhaul of its entire fleet for customers across the North.

The full ‘Class 185’ fleet of trains are now going through a phased refurbishment programme, and over the next few weeks and months you will start to notice the new trains more and more as every one of the 51 units receives a full modern makeover.

Our upgrade project is a £32million investment in the fleet, working with manufacturing company Siemens, and train owner Eversholt Rail, to create a special and improved experience. The upgrades include brand new seats throughout, including leather

in first class, and real practical benefits such as: standard plug and USB sockets at every pair of seats, both in standard and first class; bigger tables to allow more space for laptops and devices; refitted toilets; and LED lighting throughout.

Once the full programme of upgrades is completed in 2018, the trains will be fitted with even more improvements including information screens,

and free, fast Wi-Fi and an onboard entertainment system.

Our vision is ‘taking the North further’, and we have worked with local suppliers from across the North to complete the refurbishment.

The quality is extremely high, with standard class seat fabrics made by Camira Fabrics, based near Huddersfield, and the curtains in first class are made by A.W. Hainsworth in Pudsey.

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TAKING THE NORTH FURTHER

Paul Staples, Fleet Director for TransPennine Express:

The new First Class

Stephen Timothy, Client Relations Director at Eversholt Rail:

“I’m thrilled to have launched the first of the enhanced trains. I am proud of what we have achieved with Siemens, Eversholt Rail and all of the local companies supplying material and expertise to create this leap forward in journey experience for everyone in the North as part of the new TransPennine Express. This is just the start, though; over the next year all of the Class 185 trains will get this upgrade and over the next three years we will introduce 44 brand new trains, giving our customers more carriages, more seats, better reliability and more comfortable, enjoyable, productive journeys with us in the North.”

“We are delighted to continue to support TransPennine Express by investing further in our Class 185 fleet. The quality of these refurbished trains will transform the customer environment and experience in line with TPE’s vision to take the North further.

We look forward to working in partnership with TPE and Siemens to deliver the full programme.”

SEASON 4 TELL THE WORLD

Discover more: HULL

.CO.UK

Lucy Beaumont’s

K C A B D N A L L U H TO

ent WOW Hull Opening Ev

The new Standard Class

Pete Redding, Fleet Operations Director (North) for Siemens: “We are delighted that the first newly refurbished Class 185 train has re-entered service, enabling customers to start benefiting from the significantly enhanced interior environment.

The Siemens team at our train production facility in York and contractors working on our behalf are looking forward to giving each of our 51 trains a modern new look in the months ahead.”

Live performance of the hit BBC Radio 4 sitcom starring Lucy Beaumont and Maureen Lipman.

Fri 0 Mar , doors 7pm Hull City Hall £ 5, £ 0 concs

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TAKING THE NORTH FURTHER

A DAY IN THE LIFE Written by Rachael Gordon

A DAY WITH DOUGIE

Glasgow based conductor Dougie

As a head office colleague, I very rarely get to leave the office behind and head out on the TransPennine Express (TPE) network, so I was delighted when I got the chance to spend a sunny afternoon on the train with Glasgow-based conductor Dougie.

Dougie, who has worked on the railway for 13 years, has the self-proclaimed “best office window in Britain”. He shared with me the top sights and delights of the Manchester to Glasgow route, a journey he’s done hundreds of times but never gets bored of.

We started operating the Manchester to Glasgow route in 2007 with the first train leaving the station in December. The upcoming 10-year anniversary will be a milestone for Dougie, who will be celebrating 10 years with the company. As we leave Preston station, Dougie tells me why he enjoys his job so much. “The best part of the job is definitely the people.

We’re spoiled, we’re lucky.

“You tend to get involved with them and make their journey a good one. They are all very excited and you get to capture that excitement and I just love it. If you see a ticket for Manchester Airport, you immediately ask them where they’re going – they’re in better spirits because they’re usually going for fun.”

“Glasgow conductors have a different job from everyone else because the majority of our customers are leisure travellers – we’re speaking to people who are going on holiday or a hen night.

Dougie tells me when we’re approaching one of his favourite places along the route – Lancaster.

Best office window in Britain

“Lancaster is a lovely little university town, a really nice

place to come and spend some time. There are some great restaurants and bars”.

If you plan to follow in Dougie’s footsteps and take the train to Lancaster, be sure to check out some of the many hidden gems in the little market town – head to The Hall for some freshly brewed local coffee, or Sunbury Coffee House for traditional afternoon tea.

Another of Dougie’s favourite sights are the viaducts and it’s not hard to see why.

As we pass one of the impressive structures, Dougie enthuses about the view: “As you can see, I’ve got the best office window in Britain.

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TAKING THE NORTH FURTHER

Any day regardless of the weather, it’s the best view.

You’ll see people sitting on their iPads, with their heads in laptops, and they should be looking out the window.”

A little further on, Dougie points out some trees. It takes me a minute to understand why, but then I see the trees are standing in the shape of a heart. There are lots of stories about the origin of the woods – some people say it was planted as a memorial to a soldier killed in World War I, others say it was a farmer’s way of expressing his love for his wife.

You get a lot of romantic gestures This reminds Dougie of the many proposals he’s witnessed during his time as a conductor: “You get a lot of romantic gestures.

People proposing on the train, people that surprise their fiancé with a holiday away on the train… That’s when we give out the free prosecco – we can do that as a gesture of goodwill!”

Oxenholme, Kendal and Windermere are more favourites – “The views are just spectacular each are quaint, pretty little towns.” Windermere boasts the largest natural lake in England, unique Grade II listed holiday homes, and lots of outdoor activities to keep you occupied.

Head to Kendal for historic

castles and charming little teashops. If you can’t make it into the towns, the views from the train alone are worth seeing.

Glasgow is a city which really has a buzz By the time we get to Glasgow, Dougie has me convinced that he really does have the best office window in Britain. I’m a little sad to be getting off the train, but luckily there’s so much to see and do in Glasgow that feeling doesn’t last long. Bold, innovative and proud, Glasgow is a city which really has a buzz.

Fancy some shopping?

Glasgow’s city centre Style Mile is a renowned drag of retail outlets taking in Argyle Street and Buchanan Street and featuring more

than 200 stores. If you’re after more of a chilled weekend, don’t miss Merchant Square with its wide array of covered bars, restaurants and a couple of clubs.

You can travel from Manchester – Glasgow with TransPennine Express for as little as £11.50 advance purchase. Buy online at tpexpress.co.uk

6

HOW ARE WE

We’ve really upped our catering offer with better products on more routes than ever before.

But we’re not done yet, and will keep expanding and improving.

TAKING THE NORTH FURTHER 2016

Improved catering provisions throughout 2016

2016

EARLY 2017 Our refurbishment project is now underway, and you will start to see more and more refurbished trains on an almost weekly basis.

We now have free, fast Wi-Fi at all 19 of our stations.

Trains to Dundee, Perth, Aberdeen and Inverness

Edinburgh

Trains to Dundee, Perth, Aberdeen and Inverness Glasgow Queen Street

Refurbishment starts on existing trains to ‘like new’ standard

Haymarket

Dunbar

Glasgow Central Motherwell Berwick-upon-Tweed

Carstairs Kilmarnock

Ayr

Trains to Stranraer

Lockerbie Dumfries

Hexham Stranraer

Carlisle

2017

Free Wi-Fi at all 19 TPE stations

2017

Penrith North Lakes

Workington

Whitehaven

Windermere

Oxenholme Lake District

Major investment in mobile and smart ticketing

We have started to introduce mobile ticketing on selected routes including York to Scarborough, and are working closely with other train operators to ensure we can offer this option on all TPE routes by the end of 2017.

Grange-over-Sands

Barrow-in-Furness Morecambe

Lancaster

Heysham Port

Skipton

Clitheroe

Blackpool North

Colne

Burnley

Blackpool South

Preston

Blackburn

Hudd

Chorley

Southport

Rochdale

Wigan North Western

Ormskirk

Kirkby

Wigan Wallgate

Newton St Helens -leCentral St Helens Willows Junction

Liverpool Lime Street

Widnes

Liverpool South Parkway Key: Rail services operated by TransPennine Express Rail services operated by other train companies Airport

Fleet Timetable Customer Experience Improvements Network Rail Projects

LATE 2017

Mobile tickets on all TPE routes

Trains to Llandudno and Holyhead Chester

Warrington Bank Quay Runcorn

Bolton

Irlam

Manchester Victoria

Stal

Oxford Manchester Road Piccadilly

Birchwood Warrington Central Manchester Airport

Stockport

Chinle

Trains to Trains to Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Trains to Birmingham New Street Birmingham New Street Crewe, and London Euston Birmingham New Street and London Euston and London Euston

LATE 2017

Ordsall Chord V ease congestio Manchester Pic Victoria and Ma

The Ordsall Chord construction is on time and will open as planned in December 2017, meaning less congestion and a better-connected Manchester and the North.

DOING? Newcastle Station

2018 - 2020

Brand new state-of-the-art carriages and trains

2020

7

The first of the new trains to be introduced (CAF Mark 5 Coaches) are now being built and will start to be tested from late this year before coming into service from summer 2018.

2017-2019 Liverpool-Newcastle service extended to Edinburgh

Alnmouth

Morpeth

Newcastle

2019

Sunderland

Chester-le-Street Durham

Operate a direct LiverpoolGlasgow service

Hartlepool Bishop Auckland

Stockton

Darlington

Middlesbrough Thornaby Yarm

Manchester Airport-York service extended to Newcastle

Whitby

Grosmont

Northallerton

Scarborough Seamer

Thirsk

A standardised timetable, meaning a ‘weekday’ service seven days a week

Malton Bridlington

Harrogate

York

Ilkley

Beverley Bradford Forster Square Bradford Interchange

Halifax

Leeds

Garforth

Wakefield Westgate

Wakefield Kirkgate

Gilberdyke

Brough

Hull

Goole

Six TPE trains an hour between Manchester and Leeds

Barton-on-Humber

lybridge

ey

Howden

South Milford Castleford

Dewsbury

dersfield

Selby

Cross Gates

Thorne South Hatfield & Stainforth Kirk Sandall

Barnsley Mexborough

Barnetby

Crowle Althorpe

Scunthorpe

Doncaster

Habrough

Grimsby Town Cleethorpes

Conisbrough Rotherham

Meadowhall Dore & Totley

Trains to Derby, Nottingham and London St. Pancras

Trains to Peterborough and London Kings Cross

We have now extended our Manchester Airport – York services to Newcastle, and will be introducing a sixth TPE service between Manchester and Leeds in May 2018.

Lincoln

2018

Got any feedback?

JUL 2018 On board entertainment system on all trains

Get in touch

7

Viaduct, helping to on by connecting ccadilly, Manchester anchester Oxford Road

Manchester Piccadilly

We have already introduced free on-board entertainment and Wi-Fi on our Anglo-Scottish trains and are rolling this out on all our services from the end of 2017.

Our webchat and webform – tpexpress.co.uk Telephone – 0345 600 1671 Twitter – @tpeassist or our Facebook page – TPExpressTrains

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TAKING THE NORTH FURTHER

IMPROVING YOUR JOURNEYS

IMPROVING YOUR STATIONS TransPennine Express are committed to improving your journey.

On top of introducing three new fleets of trains we are making a significant investment into our stations to ensure your customer experience with us is second to none.

Ticket Vending Machines

Wi-Fi

We’ve installed brand new ticket vending machines at all 19 of our stations.

Customer Information Screens

We’re massively upgrading the speed and coverage of our Wi-Fi at all 19 of our stations.

LED Lighting We’re replacing and improving the customer information screens and public announcement systems at all 19 of our stations.

We’re fitting environmentally friendly LED lighting in all of our car parks and all 19 of our stations.

A note from Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Experience Director for TransPennine Express: “The latest National Rail Passenger Survey (NRPS) results have been released, and with an overall satisfaction score of 86 percent I am thrilled. The valuable feedback from our customers demonstrates that they are really noticing the improvements we are making.

Our colleagues continue to put every effort into ensuring customers receive the standard of service they deserve and I’m proud to see that this has been recognised. Since the last survey, we’ve made positive changes like enhancing our on-board catering offer and introducing new ticketing products with discounts for jobseekers and groups.

We’re also working hard to improve our stations and the stations our customers travel through. At Leeds we’re putting in extra seating on the platforms our trains stop at, and on this page you’ll find just some of what we’re doing at our own stations to make our customers journeys better and better.”

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Hull

Scunthorpe At Hull we’re investing £1.4 million to transform the customer experience, including new waiting facilities, toilets and retail outlets.

Huddersfield and Middlesbrough

At Scunthorpe we’ve added a waiting shelter to improve the station bus stop.

Huddersfield

We’ve created ‘pop-up pitches’ at Huddersfield and Middlesbrough to benefit local community groups and small businesses.

Selby

At Huddersfield we’ve invested more than £500,000 to improve the station, including the opening of our first ever first class lounge.

Seamer At Selby we are installing new cycle parking.

At Seamer station we’ve installed an accessible level crossing gate.

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FROM TRAIN TO PLANE Written by Emily Kearney

YOUR GUIDE TO GETTING TO YOUR AIRPORT York and Durham. Jump on our train to either Edinburgh Waverley or Haymarket, or Newcastle station, and then take a connecting tram to your chosen airport. If you are heading to Edinburgh airport, your tram journey should take just over 40 minutes, if heading to Newcastle International, the journey is just 25 minutes.

The TransPennine Express network can whisk you away to a number of airports right across the North of England and Scotland. We have regular direct connections into Manchester Airport from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle (stopping across the North along the way), and alternatively, combined services with buses and trams that link with ease to Newcastle Airport, Leeds Bradford Airport, and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

There are direct trains to Manchester Airport from right across the North, with the airport’s terminal just a short walk away from the train station. Simply select Manchester Airport when you are buying your ticket.

Liverpool South Parkway or Doncaster Interchange, don’t forget to add-on your bus ticket whilst purchasing your train ticket. If you are going to Leeds station, just select Leeds Bradford Airport for a through ticket.

To get to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Leeds Bradford Airport and Doncaster Sheffield Airport, we run trains to Liverpool South Parkway, Leeds Station and Doncaster Interchange.

From these stations, simply hop on a connecting bus to the Airport you are travelling from. If you are going to

Edinburgh Airport and Newcastle International Airport are just as simple to get to. We run direct services to Edinburgh Waverley and Haymarket from Manchester calling at Preston, Lancaster and Oxenholme, and there are hourly services into Newcastle from Liverpool calling at Manchester, Leeds,

Glasgow Airport serves most major international airlines, and is located eight miles out of the city. We run direct services to Glasgow central from Manchester, calling at Preston, Lancaster and Oxenholme. On arrival into Glasgow, take a connecting train to Paisley and then a connecting bus to the Airport. Just select Glasgow airport to purchase a through ticket.

Happy travels!

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FOOD LOVER? Written by Graham Meiklejohn

GET YOURSELF TO MALTON

Malton in North Yorkshire is one of Britain’s most renowned foodie destinations, and on the second Saturday of every month holds a food market with live cooking demonstrations, live music and of course the freshest local produce.

The town is also home to numerous food producers and shops, restaurants, cafes, food tours, a cookery school and an annual food festival.

With many outstanding hotels and B&Bs it’s the

perfect place for a day trip to turn into a weekend away relaxing - eating, shopping, cooking and enjoying Yorkshire’s Food Capital!

The food market is just minutes from Malton train station where TransPennine Express trains call each hour on our Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough service, making it the perfect way to kick start the weekend.

Visit maltonyorkshire.co.uk/ monthly-food-market/ to find out more!

Malton holds on every second Saturday of the month a food market with live cooking demonstrations You can get to Malton from York for as little as £9.80 return and from Leeds as £15.00 return.

Book online at tpexpress.co.uk

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THE PRINCE’S TRUST Written by Jack Kempf

A PARTNERSHIP FIT FOR A PRINCE

TransPennine Express (TPE) have partnered with The Prince’s Trust to help 18-25 year olds get their foot on the ladder and to develop the professional skills and experience they need to gain sustainable employment.

We are running two ‘Get Into Customer Service’ programmes in 2017, the first of which has already been completed, with ten 18-25 year olds excelling in their time with us. The group, all from the North West of England, gained practical work experience with frontline teams in Huddersfield, Manchester,

and on-board trains. On a daily basis the group worked with station staff and conductors, checking tickets and being the

impressive vocational training including WorldHost, the same scheme used to train the amazing volunteers at London 2012.

were really friendly and I felt part of the family.

The course was rewarding and I have gained loads of new skills and confidence that I can take forward.”

Following the programme, Callum and two other participants, Kim and Rihanna, all gained full time employment with us as Revenue Protection Assistants based in Manchester.

‘face of TPE’, ensuring that excellent customer service was provided. The group also successfully completed some

Callum, who took part in the programme, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time with TPE, the staff

The next ‘Get Into Customer Service’ scheme that we will hold together with The Prince’s Trust will be held later this year, so if you want to know more head to www.princes-trust.org.uk.