Nexus and the Tyne and Wear Metro are in the running for five awards at the forthcoming UK Rail Business Awards with their family price promise, commitment to employee development and involving customers in the design of the new trains all recognised. Nexus, Stadler and Buckingham Group all have nominations in the awards which will be announced later this month.
The nominations have been made in the following categories:
- Education and Training Excellence – recognising the boost it gave driver recruitment and customer service training by opening the £9 million Learning Centre
- Marketing and Communications Excellence – New initiatives to encourage passengers back to the Metro after lockdowns including the new “Take the kids for free” price promise
- Innovation of the Year – a nomination for Nexus and Stadler in connection with the consultation on the design of the new trains through an interactive online engagement campaign
- Marketing and Communications Excellence – exactly the same reason as Innovation of the Year!
- Infrastructure Project Excellence – Buckingham Group have been nominated for the completion of the construction of the new depot at Howdon both on time and within budget at the height of the pandemic
Martin Kearney, Chief Operating Officer at Nexus, said: “he UK Rail Business Awards recognises the best there is, so to be named finalist in five categories is a tremendous achievement for Metro, Nexus and our suppliers. What all these nominations have in common is a determination by our employees and suppliers to give our customers the best despite the huge impact of the pandemic. We opened new facilities, trained a record number of drivers and found new ways to put local people at the heart of our new train design. Metro is emerging from the pandemic stronger than any other UK transport operator, and with bold customer offers including our Take The Kids For Free price promise. This has been team effort in difficult times of which we are all very proud.”
The award ceremony takes place in London on 23rd February.