Nottingham Express Transit have announced the appointment of a new network resilience and security manager as part of a wider initiative to increase safety for tram users. Shaun Kenneth joins the team with more than 14 years of experience in the transport and light rail sectors and will utilise his experience to bolster the network’s stringent safety plans and to help increase the resilience of the trams across Nottingham.
Shaun gained experience from his team leading the metro mobilisation in Doha and Qatar and supported transport safety planning for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
As part of his new role he will aim to enhance NET’s incident management process and strengthen its adverse weather procedures to better support maintenance and driving staff along with users of the tram.
He will also engage with local stakeholders to invest in NET’s role as key pillar of support for local emergency services, including Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and Nottinghamshire Police.
Shaun said: “Nottingham’s resilience as a city has shone through in recent times, as has the tram network’s positive impact on the city, with the network proving to be an integral part of the city’s infrastructure. As a key transport provider, NET’s aim is always to improve how it operates, and a key part of that is ensuring it makes the network as safe as possible for the many people who rely on it every day.
“I see my new role as being proactive rather than reactive, ensuring that none of our safety processes become stagnant and that we are continuously improving. Consistent best practice and efficient training plans for our staff are key for our development as a sustainable business, and I’m looking forward to supporting NET’s goals towards growing our safety capabilities.”
Sarah Turner, service delivery and safety director at NET, said: “The safety of our tram users is, and always will be, our number one priority. As such, we’re committed to regularly reviewing our operations and our safety strategies to ensure we provide all our tram users with the utmost levels of care and support. And the appointment of Shaun is a key part of that. He’s a real asset to the team and brings a wealth of experience which we look forward to drawing on over the coming months.”
As well as appointing Shaun into this new role, NET have a raft of other measures in place to help keep tram users and the wider public safe and supported. These include well-lit tramstops and platforms, emergency help buttons at all stops and on all trams, HD CCTV cameras on all trams and tramstops and the option to contact a member of the NET team discreetly through WhatsApp.