East Midlands Railway staff members took a break from the tracks and took to the catwalk to launch their brand new uniform.
The brand new uniform has now been issued to more than 2,000 East Midlands Railway (EMR) staff and can be seen onboard trains and in station making EMR employees easier to identify for customers.
The launch was filmed at Nottingham railway station and saw EMR team members take part in a catwalk showing off the new uniform which will be worn by employees including those working in Customer Services, Drivers and Fleet areas.
The uniform has been designed to provide an open wardrobe for every staff member who can choose the fit and style that best works for them from a selection of garments specially created for their position.
The range features a selection of versatile items suitable for all weather conditions as well as being smart and comfortable.
New name badges will also feature language flags which will make it easier to identify staff members who are confident in speaking a number of languages and are able to support customers.
The flags are designed to enhance accessibility throughout the EMR network, especially for customers who don't speak English as their first language.
Neil Grabham, Customer Experience Director for EMR said:
“The new uniform, which was designed in collaboration with staff from start to finish, will give our colleagues a fresh look, making them easily recognisable to customers in the EMR colours. It has been designed with practicality and comfort in mind, and of course, it will help all EMR colleagues retain a highly visible and recognisable presence around our stations and On Board.
“I am so proud of everyone who has been involved in this project, we've created a uniform that not only looks good, but also allows our staff to bring their authentic selves to work and wear their new uniform with pride”.
International designer, Debbie Johnson, has designed for many world-leading airlines, travel and transport companies such as Virgin Atlantic and Eurostar, and has designed and developed EMR's new uniform collection. Debbie said:
“The uniform has been created based on user feedback and collaboration with a volunteer working group from across all areas of EMR.
“In the early stages of the project, we immersed ourselves in swatches of material, going on a journey to find the perfect balance of fabrics, patterns and textures that work synonymously with the heritage and colour palette, and perfectly tell the story of the brand, but also retained a look and feel of a modern working uniform”.
Louise Noke is a Customer Service Officer for EMR, she said:
“I have been involved in the uniform trial from the beginning in 2021, and I was delighted to be asked to help launch the uniform to the rest of EMR staff.
Louise is also featured in EMR's latest TV advert which features Miles, and went on to discuss how wearing the uniform improves her confidence:
“having my colleagues from across the business comment on how great the uniform looks has been such a positive experience.
“We have been patiently waiting for the new uniform to arrive and today we can all wear it with excitement and pride, helping us deliver the best experience for our customers”.
This will enhance service reliability . . . . how?