National Express East Anglia and its Associated Community Rail Partnerships Win Awards and Wider Recognition at the Community Rail Awards 2008!

There were three awards for National Express East Anglia (NXEA) or those involved in its Community Rail Partnerships at the Community Rail Awards 2008 held in Plymouth over the weekend of 19-21 September:

• Wymondham station won the best station ticket office/retail outlet reflecting the work of the train operator in introducing a new ticket office at the station in recent years and that of David Turner in the development of his Brief Encounter café. The judges were also impressed with the other improvements at the station including information provision and station presentation.

• Volunteer Janet Cloke won Outstanding Volunteer Contribution for her tireless efforts in improving the station environment at Althorne station on the Crouch Valley line in Essex between Wickford and Southminster.

• The third award was for Best Station Garden at Sudbury - celebrating the wonderful work of the
Station Adopter Darren Johnson, John Sayers and his team from Sudbury-in-Bloom, who have transformed an unkempt stretch of unsightly hedge into a beautiful flower bed along the side of the platform, thereby making the station a truly attractive gateway to the town. They were ably assisted in their work by CRP officer Bryan Harker.

In addition to these awards the train operator and the community rail partnerships in which it is a key player received commendations in a number of other awards:

• 2nd in the Passengers Matter award for NXEA’s rural station staffing scheme at North Walsham, Wymondham, Brundall and Attleborough.

• 2nd in the Most Enhanced Community Station award for Woodbridge station in Suffolk where a partnership with the local council has improved car parking, bus links and cycle parking; the station houses the local tourist information office and a café, Adnams have opened a new retail outlet and work by NXEA, Network Rail and Woodbridge in Bloom has transformed the appearance of the station.

• 2nd in the Best Marketing Publication for the East Suffolk Line Walks guide – a publication developed by the Chair of the East Suffolk Line Community Rail Partnership John Brodribb, detailing a number of walks possible by taking the train to East Suffolk line stations.

• 3rd in the Local Transport Integration award for the partnership between NXEA and the Widen the Choice Partnership to stop Sunday trains at stations close to RSPB reserves such as Buckenham and Lakenheath.

• 3rd in the Best Marketing Publication for the Explore the Yare Valley on Sundays leaflet promoting the walking, sailing, cycling and nature-watching opportunities available by NXEA services (again for a partnership between NXEA and the Widen the Choice Partnership)

Commenting on these successes, Managing Director Andrew Chivers said :

“I’m delighted that once again the excellent work of our teams in developing our Community rail routes has been recognised. These lines are crucial parts of our network and essential to the prosperity and sustainability of the communities they serve. The success of all involved – the Community Rail Partnerships, volunteers and our employees - in improving services, stations and community links is impressive. We are committed to maintaining this positive approach and further developing our community rail lines in the future.”