Southeastern achieved unprecedented success at this year's National Rail Awards when it won six awards and was highly commended in two other categories.
The company came out winners in the following categories:
- Customer Service Excellence;
- Great Place To Work;
- Outstanding Personal Contribution (Management) to Lee Woolcott-Ellis, Mental Health Lead Manager
- Lifesaver Awards, to
- Paul Myers,
- Sampaess Wanliss,
- Nicky Aitkenhead
It was also highly commended in the following categories:
- Small Station of the Year;
- Major Station of the Year.
Southeastern's Managing Director, Steve White, commented: “Along with everyone at Southeastern I'm delighted that our teams' efforts have been so comprehensively recognised at this year's National Rail Awards, with no fewer than six winners.
“Our goal is to build a better, more reliable and sustainable railway and these awards recognise the work our team is putting into that.
“For the second time this year – the first being at the Rail Innovation Awards – our Customer Information team has been singled out for recognition with the ‘Customer Service Excellence' Award. With our suppliers, we're leading the field in getting good service information to customers quickly. We also work really hard to make Southeastern a ‘Great Place to Work' and we're delighted to pick up the industry's most prestigious award for this as well.
Steve White continued: “As well as this collective recognition, four of our team have been singled out for personal accolades: for pioneering work on mental health and no fewer than three Lifesaver awards. These people are among the best of our industry and we're so proud of them. Congratulations to Lee Woolcott-Ellis, Samprass Wanliss, Nicky Aitkenhead and Paul Myers.
“As well as six winners we're thrilled that Etchingham Station has been highly commended in the ‘Small Station of the Year' Award and on the topic of stations, congratulations to the team at London Bridge, where our partners at Network Rail have been highly-commended in the ‘Major Station of the Year' category. Our conductor Mark Barron was also highly commended for his Outstanding Personal Contribution (Frontline).”
I find it sad that the validity of the awards to Lee Woolcott-Ellis, Paul Myers, Sampaess Wanliss & Nicky Aitkenhead, who probably really deserve them, is undermined by the Customer Service award. To give this award to Southeastern following the cuts to services they forced on their customers this year makes a mockery of the awards.
I see a lot of abuse towards southeastern, I get the train to London from Ramsgate twice a week and in the past four months I’ve only been delayed twice and had one train cancelled. The staff are really nice, particularly Tony in the ticket office. I do think rail travel is too expensive in the UK, and the wifi on southeastern trains is horrific, but overall it’s not too bad.
Its worrying if southeastern is the best weve got
What a joke. South Eastern timetable is a joke and is a lot worse than last year. The numbers using it are falling. My local station is always unstaffed although it should be.
How it wins awards is beyond me. I have no faith I’m the management.
Calm down, Nigel. You might sh*t your old man pants (again).