2019 ow renowned as the industry’s ‘Oscars’, this environmentally-friendly modes that connect with year’s Global Light Rail Awards saw a packed people of all ages on an emotional level in a way Naudience gather to celebrate another 12 that others just can’t match." months of achievements from across the industry. Jackie Townsend, Managing Director of headline The event was hosted once again by BBC supporter FirstGroup subsidiary Tram Operations broadcaster and journalist Nicholas Owen, offering Limited, commented: “The light rail sector is guests his usual inspiring welcome: “As towns seeing change, with many new entrants and and cities around the world grow and expand, they systems across Europe and the UK. It is great that face serious challenges in terms of congestion, air through sharing and collaboration at events such quality and social mobility. We all know that more as this we can all continue to learn from each other cars, wider roads and bigger downtown car parks and develop this vibrant industry even further, aren’t the answer. We need a new approach – whether it be for innovation, technology or safety – and, wouldn’t you know it, it’s been under our everyone benefits.” noses all the time. The following pages contain all the detail of “Tramway, streetcar, light rail or metro: whatever those inspiring people, projects and products name you choose, these are the safe, efficient, honoured on the night… SUPPORTED BY Global Light Rail Awards 2019 Special 2019 TEAM OF THE YEAR Sponsored by The Highly Commended honour in this vacancies and will pay dividends in creating this investment in learning must be built hotly-contested category was presented dedicated teams.” upon to extend the reach of our main line to the HR, Learning and Development The winner was a cross-sector team network to penetrate population centres.” Team from West Midlands Metro for its representing many different organisations The award was collected by Network initiative in partnering with local colleges that have overcome diverse technical and Rail, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport to deliver a new training programme for regulatory challenges – and in many cases Executive and Stagecoach Supertram local candidates who showed promise at had to make it up as they went along in representatives. Steve Cocliff from the interview stage but lacked core skills. creating the UK’s first tram-train scheme. MPT presented the awards. The bespoke four-week course included The judges recognised the challenges Simon Coulthard, Senior Sponsor from dedicated light rail training with depot in delivering this complex project, Network Rail, said: “We are delighted that visits and driver training. including the setback of losing its principal the Tram-Train team’s hard work and One judge commented: “Things like contractor, Carillion, in the final stages. tenacity has been recognised. This award maths and English can be taught, but The judges said: “Tenacity, pragmatism, is for the many excellent people who put in passion and enthusiasm can’t. Spotting and teamwork got this pathfinder effort to ensure this innovative and talent isn’t easy, but taking the time to scheme across the line in often tough ground-breaking project will bring long develop candidates if they miss a few skills circumstances. Bridging the gap between lasting benefits to passengers in city is a brilliant approach to filling long-term light and main line rail hasn’t been easy, but regions across the country.” SYPTE, Network Rail and Stagecoach Supertram WINNER UK Tram-Train Pilot HIGHLY COMMENDED West Midlands Metro HR, Learning and Development Team EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR Sponsored by The judges gave the Highly Commended highest qualifications in his discipline and in the Scottish capital to bring other team accolade for Employee of the Year to developing new processes and ways of members up to his own high standards. Kenny Ewan of CAF, praising his adaptation working for his organisation – and all with The Employee of the Year winner was of years of knowledge and experience the customer in mind. described as the “young man who keeps a derived from the automotive sector into a The panel was also impressed by his close eye on the cash tin”. Tom Maplethorpe new role working with Edinburgh Trams. leadership and mentoring skills, using his of the Midland Metro Alliance leads the Over the last few years, Mr Ewan has own time to hone his skills and develop target cost-related activities for the five proven to be an invaluable member of new processes that benefit his team and major light rail expansion projects in the its rolling stock team, achieving the ultimately, the passengers of the tramway UK's West Midlands, keeping them in check and on schedule. Praised by his employers for his communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills, their testimonial said: “He provides a rare blend of being able to integrate both continuity and innovation… if you want to know how the Alliance works, just go and ask Tom.” The judges also paid tribute to Tom’s ‘encyclopedic knowledge of the detail of the schemes he’s working on’, adding: “Holding the reins to such a huge beast, and keeping it in check, for someone relatively new to WINNER the industry is a massive job.” HIGHLY COMMENDED Tom Maplethorpe Steve Cocliff from MPT joined Nicholas Colas Rail / Midland Metro Alliance Kenny Ewan – CAF Owen to present the category honours. 462 / DECEMBER 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org QR codes QR code 1 – Pomona – Cleveland Bridge QR codes QR code 2 – Crumpsall QR code 1 – Pomona – ClevelandWith Bridge absolute alignment of our three partners MPT continues to deliver the design & construction of the multi-million pound Metrolink expansion with the Trafford Park Line Extension QR code 2 – Crumpsall QR code 3 – Pomona Blockade QR code 3 – Pomona Blockade Delivering Certainty Trafford Park Line QR code 4 – TPL 24 QR code 4 – TPL 24 QR code 5 – Event City QR code 5 – Event City AD TO COME Operating in Australia, Europe & Middle East www.northstarconsultancy.com www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org DECEMBER 2019 / 463 Global Light Rail Awards 2019 Special 2019 BEST CUSTOMER INITIATIVE Sponsored by WINNER KeolisAmey Docklands – DLR Discovery HIGHLY COMMENDED Keolis Dijon Mobilités – Open Payments Here, the judges are looking for initiatives an online portal allows them to track their professional guides providing a running that have a tangible impact on the life of journeys and print receipts. This may seem commentary of the fascinating area of East the everyday passenger, making journeys straightforward, but what impressed the London in which the network operates. easier, more comfortable and efficient. judges was the take-up. The six-month The days were a spectacular success. The Highly Commended prize therefore target was achieved in just a few weeks Thousands took part in the tours – many went to the team from Keolis Dijon for and in March this year, two-thirds of tram of them children – with takeaway goodie its 'Open Payments' platform that has passengers were using the new system. bags included. A flood of social media transformed travel in the French city, The winner, however, was another traffic was generated from those who took introducing a whole new demographic operator from the Keolis stable, this time part and client Transport for London was to the benefits of travel on its 20km in London. KeolisAmey Docklands was delighted with the response. (12-mile) two-line tramway. The platform praised for its ‘DLR Discovery Days’ that Richard Brown, Managing Director of guarantees travellers the lowest fare if saw an additional 93 trains added into the North Star Consultancy, helped present they pay by bank card or smartphone, and busy weekend schedules in 2018, with the honours. BEST ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE In introducing this category, host Nicholas including unprecedented levels of soil Owen said: “The term ‘climate emergency’ sampling (500-plus tests). If it couldn’t be has now entered our everyday lexicon, and repurposed for construction, it has helped more and more extreme events related to create more attractive landscapes or climate change are causing chaos all over enhanced local community projects. the world. Light rail is part of the solution. New ways of working with a local Promoters shout about how their services contractor have seen zero landfill, with are emissions-free at point of use, and food waste turned into fertiliser for local this year sees another crop of innovative farms and biogas also sold back to the submissions taking that commitment to grid. Over 5000 lorry journeys were saved WINNER sustainability even further.” as part of this programme, reducing the Highly Commended was the entry from use of virgin materials to the minimum. MPT – Making an Impact without leaving a mark KeolisAmey Metrolink. In just eight months, ‘Making an Impact without making a the operator has seen: a 91% carbon mark’ was described by the judges as reduction thanks to new waste compactors; “outstanding”, and a lesson to all in how a 5% reduction in energy used overall; and to build a tramway to the highest quality a new vegetation and biodiversity plan with while also maximising sustainability. network-wide digital mapping, with its depot Andy Smith, MPT Project Manager, said: waste grounds converted into gardens and “It is great to be recognised by the industry sustainable urban wildlife habitats. for all the hard work that the Trafford Park The winning submission from the MPT Line team has put into the project. The consortium was described as “winning team has been committed to delivering the war on waste”. During construction this prestigious project whilst maximising of the GBP350m, 5.5km (3.4-mile) environmental benefits and building HIGHLY COMMENDED Trafford Park Line Metrolink extension, positive relationships along the way with KeolisAmey Metrolink there were over 30 recycling initiatives, our local community.” Creating an environmentally-conscious culture 464 / DECEMBER 2019 www.tautonline.com .