Sector Focus


Business Travel


Sponsored by: Chiltern Railways


Chiltern Railways partners with Aston University to improve customer experience during rail disruption


By Suzy Rigg Senior Communications Manager


Chiltern Railways has partnered with Aston University to improve information during rail disruption developing a simulation system for staff which will speed recovery and improve communication. Disruption is sometimes


inevitable due to external incidents such as technical failures and extreme weather. Sharing of information can help to reduce the impact of delays; improving travellers’ journeys by clearly informing their decisions on whether to travel and how. The project is part funded


by RSSB’s Train Operator Challenge 15 (TOC’15) competition and follows work undertaken by Chiltern Railways and Aston University during 2015 that demonstrated the critical value of information for passengers during disruption. Dave Penney, Managing


Director of Chiltern Railways said: “The work is a demonstration of our commitment to provide customers with the best travel experience possible. We recognise that travel disruption can be stressful so it is vital that our staff have the skills to give our passengers timely, accurate and clear information whatever the situation. This work is incredibly important as it will allow staff to test themselves in a variety of situations both familiar and unfamiliar.” Professor Ben Clegg,


Professor of Operations Management, Aston University, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Chiltern Railways as it gives us a first-hand insight into the rail industry and provides us with a complex challenge. At Aston, we are always keen to engage with businesses and apply our expertise to real-life situations, helping to solve even the toughest challenges that they face.”


50 CHAMBERLINK June 2016


The 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport is the car that never forgets - thanks to the world-first integration of an advanced tracking app. The premium compact SUV is the first vehicle to incorporate the pioneering technology in addition to enhanced new design, convenience and safety features. The rush to work or the school


Taxi!: Anne Shaw and Steve Law of Harborne Garage


Cleaner cabs on Brum’s streets


The latest phase of a project to make Birmingham’s black cabs cleaner is underway. Five cabs have had new LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)-fuelled engines fitted as part of the NOx Reduction Champions Project – a partnership between Harborne Garage, engine manufacturer KMS and Birmingham City Council. The partnership is being further supported through collaboration with an


LPG Industry representative body, Autogas Ltd. The new engines are ‘Euro 6’ compliant – the standard at which all


vehicles within the scope of the city’s Government-mandated Clean Air Zone will be exempt from any charges. Anne Shaw, assistant director – transportation and connectivity at


Birmingham City Council, said: “We have to introduce a Clean Air Zone as part of the Government’s strategy to bring the country into line with the law. “The fact our city has an ageing fleet of cabs means we need to look at


how we can work with drivers to re-profile the vehicles serving customers in the city as their impact on air quality is significant. “Through the funding the council has successfully unlocked from the


Government, we’ve been able to play a part in forming links with technology providers and engineers to come up with part of the solution to one of the city’s major public health issues. “This is one of a package of measures and investment that will


encourage people to use other fuels and forms of transport in the city. We’ll continue looking at ways in which to develop partnerships and encourage innovation to achieve this.”


New route for Flybe


Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, is to launch a new year- round service between Birmingham and Luxembourg, starting on 5 September. It is currently only possible for


UK passengers to fly to Luxembourg from London. Tickets are available for booking now at www.flybe.com with one way fares from £29.99 including taxes and charges.


Flybe said that daily flights


would ensure maximum flexibility when it came to planning a journey to one of Europe’s most important business hubs which, when combined with Luxembourg’s excellent transport infrastructure and convenient geographical location, would mean that the new route is potentially vital for those who conduct business in Europe.


Matthew Cheyne, MG head of sales and marketing; Brian Walters, Driver Power and Lizi Piggins, MG Press Officer


MG are driving away the competition


Motorists have given the ‘thumbs up’ to MG Motor – voting both the MG3 and MG6 models in the top five of this year’s Auto Express Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. For the second year in a row, the


MG6 collected a bronze award in the family car segment, while the MG3 was placed fifth in the ‘supermini’ category. In both 2014 and 2015, the MG3,


MG6 and MG as a whole scooped awards for best handling, third best manufacturer, tenth best car to own and this year has confirmed that British motorists are still just as impressed with the models. Matthew Cheyne, MG head of


sales and marketing, said: “We are thrilled to see that once again our customers have praised MG in the Driver Power survey.”


‘We need to look at how we can work with drivers to re-profile the vehicles’


run can often result in important items being left behind, but the new Discovery Sport is designed to make forgotten wallets and missing bags a thing of the past. The app uses Tile tags, tiny Bluetooth trackers that can be attached to important items and used to track their whereabouts using smartphone technology. With the average person spending 15 minutes a day searching for lost items, the in- vehicle app promises to put an end to this wasted time. Once the app is initiated using the central touchscreen, customers are alerted if specified items are not inside the vehicle and are


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