COMPANY NEWS
Franchise extension for operator that transformed ‘misery line’ to top scorer
A
train operator serving East London and Essex has secured a two-year extension to its franchise.
National Express Group’s c2c franchise will now run to May 26, 2013.
Chief executive Dean Finch said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the extension.
“It is testament to our highly professional team who have
made c2c one of the best performing train operators in Britain.”
He described 98.8% punctuality levels as “record-breaking” and said the company was looking
forward to serving passengers during the 2012 Olympics.
It runs services from Fenchurch Street and Liverpool Street to Tilbury and out to Southend and Shoeburyness.
Passenger Focus said the firm’s customers would welcome the news, as they rate c2c consistently highly in the National Passenger Survey, with 91% satisfied overall and 94% satisfied with punctuality.
But it said there should be more services, longer trains, especially on the Tilbury Loop, and better value-for-money fares.
Tunde Olatunji, Passenger Focus manager, said: “c2c has done well with this franchise. It has been transformed from the ‘misery line’ to one of the highest performing rail companies in the country, with top scores for passenger satisfaction, punctuality and reliability.”
Reel boost to customer service from cinema honcho E
ast Coast has pulled in some fresh talent to boost its customer service department – with experience both in the rail industry and outside it.
The company has hired Neil Clucas, a former operations
director of the Odeon and UCI Cinema Group, as its new Director of Customer Services, while Mark Tarry, formerly Network Rail’s East Midlands Area General Manager, has joined East Coast as head of on- board services.
Managing director Karen Boswell said: “These
appointments are great news for our business at a crucial time, as we prepare to launch a new First Class on-board offer, which will include complimentary food and drinks served to customers
Fast slab lifting without disruption S
ettlement to base slabs which threatened to
disrupt operations at a rail depot in Farnham last autumn was quickly dealt with thanks to the use of polymer injection from specialist contractor Uretek UK Ltd.
The 60-year old slabs had been gradually settling for many years, due to compaction of fill material, drainage and washout problems, as well as the increased weight of modern rolling stock.
The problem was mitigated with speed restrictions, but had reached a point where further use of the 6,000-sq-metre facility was jeopardised, with consequent disruption to railway timetables.
A piling solution was rejected due to cost, while breaking out
Highly controllable and with a design life in excess of 100 years, the process is very fast to apply, with 90% strength being achieved within 15 minutes.
Polymer injection was pioneered by Uretek 30 years ago in Finland, and is nowadays used throughout the world for a wide range of ground improvement.
and replacing the slabs was thought too time-consuming and disruptive. Adding ballast was also considered, but as it would not provide a long-term solution, was passed over in favour of polymer injection.
The Uretek process involves inserting copper pipes through narrow-diameter holes and then injecting fast-expanding polymers which fill voids, consolidate the ground, and then provide lift where necessary.
“ The problem had reached a point where further use of the facility was jeopardised, with consequent disruption to railway timetables.”
14 | rail technology magazine Dec/Jan 11
Uretek teams began work at the Farnham facility on 22 November, and finished on 16 December.
Operations of the depot were not disrupted during the repair, and tolerances well within the +/- 10mm target were achieved.
The project was carried out by Network Rail, Osborne Rail and Uretek working in partnership, with support from Frankham Consultancy Group.
at their seats, and the biggest timetable change in 20 years.”
The timetable, launching in May, will provide 20 more services, more than 3m extra seats and faster typical journeys, she said.
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