News

NORTHERN GAINS EXCELLENCE AWARD

4th January 2008

Northern Rail has been recognised for its success in getting the right people and plans in place to deliver a successful, growing railway across the north of England.

The train operator, the biggest in Britain, runs 2,500 trains each day and has attracted 22 % more passengers since it started three years ago.

In recognition of its success, Northern has been awarded an Achievement Marque in the North of England Marques of Excellence Scheme for driving towards excellence through its business processes.

Heidi Mottram, Managing Director, Northern said: “We’re delighted to have achieved this recognition. We continue to strive towards excellence in everything we do and while this award shows we are on the right course, we are always looking to improve what we do.”

David Teale, Chief Executive, North of England Excellence said: “Northern Rail have demonstrated their commitment to excellence, quality and continuous improvement, and I am really pleased that North of England Excellence could present Northern Rail with the Marques of Excellence achievement Marque in recognition of the great progress they have made.”

Northern Rail has based its drive towards excellence on the EFQM (European Foundation Quality Management) Excellence Model. The Model is used widely throughout Europe as a framework for improving organisations of all types. The Model says that excellent results in overall performance, customers, people and society are achieved through making the most of the company’s people, partnerships and resources through sound processes.

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Notes to editors

Attached picture shows left to right: Heidi Mottram, Managing Director Northern Rail and David Teale, Chief Executive, North of England Excellence.

Northern Rail is the biggest train operator in Britain, providing 2,500 local and regional train services every day across the north of England, serving a population of nearly 15m. We are now carrying 77 million passengers a year, 20% more than when we started our franchise in December 2004.

Northern Rail is owned by Serco-NedRailways, a joint venture established in 2002 that combines Serco’s world-class service credentials and NedRailways’ unrivalled rail industry expertise. Serco has run the highly successful Docklands Light Railway since 1997 while NedRailways’ parent, NS Dutch Railways, carries over 1.1 million passengers every day in the Netherlands.

In addition to Northern Rail, Serco-NedRailways has the 25-year concession for Merseyrail, which provides urban train services in Merseyside.

Recent Northern honours

Public Transport Operator of the Year - National Transport Awards 2007

Winners – Example of Excellence in Rural Action, Business in the Community Awards 2007

Overall Winners - Community Rail Awards 2007