Award winning companies

[northwichcat]

The National Rail Business Award winners include Southern (Rail business of the year), Siemens (supplier excellence), FGW (customer information award), TPE (operator of the year), Warrington Central station (station of the year), East Coast (Integrated Transport Excellence award*) and NXEA and Bomardier's Class 379s (rolling stock award.)

http://www.railbusinessawards.com/news.html

* effectively a fancy title for station improvement award

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Isn't it nice to see the Railway Companies enjoying a night in the London Hilton telling each other just how wonderful they are?

If the 'winner' was Southern for "Rainwater harvesting pilot schemes were introduced at Uckfield station and Selhurst depot" (quoted by way of example), then I think we all have a pretty good idea of how little passenger and freight customers' opinions are taken into account.

It would be equally interesting to learn which Companies have the least respect from within the industry. Two which are criticised on here are Rail Gourmet Ltd. and Atos s.a. (followed perhaps by ATOC and, er, Southern) but I wouldn't be surprised if many within the industry are happy with the way that that those two firms do what they do.

 

[Smudger105e]

...I think we all have a pretty good idea of how little passenger and freight customers' opinions are taken into account.

Not much on there from the Freight Operators, is there?

 

[DownSouth]

Not much on there from the Freight Operators, is there?

Maybe those companies generally prefer to judge how they are doing by how many containers are moved or how many customers renew their contracts?

 

[185]

Nothing like winning awards from a supposedly independant organisation which is both funded by and doing business with..... the train companies they give the awards to.

Passengers voted me Best Customer Service Excellence 2012, United Kingdom*
*Independent survey, organised by me, 0 customers surveyed

 

[Schnellzug]

What's the difference between Rail business of the year and Operator of the Year? Like all Industry awards (rather, in fact, like the Brits), they all exist in a little bubble of complete disconnection from the world outside, don't they. I see it much in the same way as how ATOC were trying to convince every else in Europe that the Franchising system was a shining example for everyone else to follow of excellence and value for money.

 

[DownSouth]

It appears that the Rail Business of the year is selected from one of the category winners, kind of like the winner of the UEFA Champions League comes from a field of teams that already won their regular competitions.

A close examination of the categories would show that only a few of them are explicitly related to passenger operators, with the rest being general.
What's to stop a freight operator putting in an entry for the rolling stock excellence award, perhaps apart from the fact freight operators aren't getting the money for employees to waste time on industry awards from lucrative government franchises?

Nothing like winning awards from a supposedly independant organisation which is both funded by and doing business with..... the train companies they give the awards to.

To be fair, I don't think I saw any claim of independence on the website, they are just industry awards and claim to be nothing but that.

All sorts of businesses participate in industry awards, it's not a con. In some cases (like advertising effectiveness awards) they are actually really well done, while architectural industry awards are infamous for having too much external influence. I don't know much about these awards, but the categories and criteria page looks reasonably promising as an indication that they are not incestuous back-patting exercises.

 

[lookingforit35]

All sorts of businesses participate in industry awards, it's not a con. In some cases (like advertising effectiveness awards) they are actually really well done, while architectural industry awards are infamous for having too much external influence. I don't know much about these awards, but the categories and criteria page looks reasonably promising as an indication that they are not incestuous back-patting exercises.

I'm not so sure. My mate works for one of the main clearing banks. His bank won a "prestigous" mortgage award from a financial magazine and he got to attend the dinner when they were announced. He told me that they were well aware that they would get an award of some sort, as they had been promised it in return for the vast amount of advertising space they had bought.

Not saying this is the case always, but trade awards do reek of partisan decision making. I take it all with a pinch of salt. :roll:

 

[WestCoast]

What's so wonderful about Warrington Central?

I know an enhanced ticket hall has been built, but it was a bit of a mess while that was going on...

 

[dvboy]

What's so special about Class 379?
(Don't think I've ever been on it)

 

[MidnightFlyer]

What's so wonderful about Warrington Central?

I know an enhanced ticket hall has been built, but it was a bit of a mess while that was going on...

It's quite a nice little station now, certainly better than Warrington's other town centre station. I think there are better out there though, maybe it is just for the most improved over the year?

What's so special about Class 379?
(Don't think I've ever been on it)

Nice trains (IMO), plus their acceleration allows for more calls on SX runs whilst sticking to old times: an example of this is with Stansted Mountfitchet, in addition to Harlow Town and Toottenham Hale on 1tph, but it stills keep to old journey times when just the latter were served.

 

[DownSouth]

I'm not so sure. My mate works for one of the main clearing banks. His bank won a "prestigous" mortgage award from a financial magazine and he got to attend the dinner when they were announced. He told me that they were well aware that they would get an award of some sort, as they had been promised it in return for the vast amount of advertising space they had bought.

Not saying this is the case always, but trade awards do reek of partisan decision making. I take it all with a pinch of salt. :roll:

Magazine awards are different to true industry awards.

 

[Bellwater]

Isn't it nice to see the Railway Companies enjoying a night in the London Hilton telling each other just how wonderful they are?

Be Positive Dave. It gives their mates who pander to them in the Railway Press copy and Photographers something to do!

 

[Schnellzug]

Is this the one that's always all over RAIL Magazine, or is this another one? Is it like the TV Quick Awards as a consolation for anyone who doesn't win a BAFTA?