From: Lewis Brencher
Sent: 16 November 2013 15:33
Subject: Stakeholder update - November 2013
Dear Colleague,
Please find below a brief summary of news relating to Arriva Trains Wales activities over the last period. You have been sent this email as a valued stakeholder. Please get in touch if you would like to be removed from this email and receive no further updates from us. If you have any queries relating to anything below, please contact me at any time. Please feel free to share with your colleagues or invite them to get in contact with us directly.
Os hoffwch derbyn yr ebost yma yng Nghymraeg, cysylltwch a ni.
Performance
Arriva Trains Wales climbed two positions to fifth of the 19 UK Train Operating Companies during this period. We are in second position in our ‘Class’ behind Merseyrail (96.3%) and ahead of Scotrail (92.1%) and Northern (91.9%).
Overall PPM (Public Performance Measure) during the four week period was an excellent 96%. This is above the Group target of 95.3%. This was a big improvement on the previous period where Overall PPM (Public Performance Measure) during the four week period was 93.3%. This was below our own target of 94.9%.
The most disruptive incident of a generally good period was on 5 October, when police requested services be stopped between Cardiff Queen Street and Heath Junction due to a firearms incident in the area. This incident resulted in 944 delay minutes and 31 cancellations. The full performance report can be found here.
News in brief
Association of Community Rail Partnership Awards – The business hosted the 2013 ACORP awards and Community Rail Festival in Llandudno. Frodsham station won the ‘Best use for station buildings’ category following its recent £400,000 renovation.
Phil Caldwell, our Cambrian Line Schools’ Liaison Officer was highly commended for his school safety project involving more than 400 children along the Cambrian Coast. A special train formed of ‘Premier Class’ rolling stock took more than 200 guests from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog the following day and onwards to Porthmadog courtesy of the Ffestiniog Railway. More details can be found here.
Winter Timetable Improvements – a number of improvements are planned from the beginning of the new timetable in December to help with capacity issues and new journey opportunities on certain routes. The ‘North – South’ Premier Service delivered in partnership with the Welsh Government is being retimed to an earlier departure of 1716 from Cardiff and will include additional stops en-route to Holyhead. Additional carriages will also be provided on some commuter services between Maesteg, Ebbw Vale and Cardiff, in addition to selected longer distance services between Manchester and South Wales. With Energlyn Station due to open next month, we’re also ensuring that our services are planned to provide regular stops at the new facilities. We are advising passengers to check to see if there have been any changes to their journeys by going here.
Transport Minister announces measures to make rail travel in Wales easier and more affordable – We are pleased to have worked alongside the Welsh Government on reviewing our fares for 2014. We are determined to continue offering affordable and value for money fares on all our routes. This year all Arriva Trains Wales’ priced season tickets will increase at less than inflation, so will represent even better value for those using the train to commute to work. Further details of the Minister’s announcement can be found by going here.
‘Love your station!’ Keep Wales Tidy Awards 2013 – Arriva Trains Wales is working in partnership with Keep Wales Tidy to encourage everyone to responsibly dispose of litter and help us present a welcoming environment to passengers at stations. You can now cast your vote to choose Wales’ tidiest railway station. More than 100 of Wales’ small unstaffed stations have been adopted by volunteers and organisations as part of Arriva Trains Wales’ adopt a station initiative. Many are lovingly cared for with colourful floral displays and artwork produced by local children and young people. First impressions really do count so to have your say, go on-line and vote for Wales’ Best Kept Staffed and Unstaffed Stations. You can find more information and vote by going here.
National Assembly Enterprise and Business Committee Inquiry into the future of the Wales and Borders Franchise – Arriva Trains Wales was pleased to provide evidence to the inquiry into the future of the Wales and Borders franchise and looks forward to helping with the on-going development of future opportunities for rail services in Wales and the Borders. The written submission to the enquiry can be viewed by visiting the committee’s page here.
‘Time to Change’ Campaign - Arriva Trains Wales has publically signed up to the ‘Time to Change’ pledge, committing itself to ensure that our workplace is supportive of employees with mental health problems. Over the next few months, Arriva Trains Wales will be working with Time to Change to develop a comprehensive action plan that will integrate our existing mental well-being employee services with any new initiatives that we aim to develop.
‘Stoptober’ – We are promoting the ‘Stoptober’ initiative to help raise awareness among employees who may need help and support to give up smoking. Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Ruth Hussey visited Cardiff Central to see how the campaign will be encouraging workers at Arriva Trains Wales to take up the Stoptober challenge to give up smoking for 28 days during October. Further details can be found here.
Marketing campaigns launched – ‘Club 55’ has been running successfully, offering those over 55 years of age ‘off-peak’ tickets from £23. The offer runs until 30 November 2013. Meanwhile, ‘Advance’ fares to a number of destinations across our network are being promoted as part of the ‘Big Cities, Tiny Train Ticket’ campaign. Full details can be found by going here.
Chartered Institute of Public Relations PRide Cymru Awards – Arriva Trains Wales was awarded Silver in the Issues and Crisis Communications Management category at the CIPR PRide awards for its handling of the Cardiff Landslip incident during London 2012. The customer communication, media relations activity during the incident, as well as the partnership working with Network Rail and others were recognised. Information can be found here.
Lewis Brencher
