Sector Focus


Business Travel


Sponsored by: Chiltern Railways


London Marylebone to Oxford rail link now open


By Lucy Evans Marketing Manager


Limited stop: the Snow Hill Metro stop has been renamed ‘St Chads’ New name for tram stop


Birmingham’s Midland Metro trams no longer call at Snow Hill, the service’s main stop in the city centre. But passengers need not worry – the trams do still


Chiltern Railways’ new rail link connecting central Oxford with London Marylebone has now opened. The completion of the new


rail link to London – the first from a major British city in more than 100 years – sees central Oxford connected to Marylebone via new stations Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village.


‘Chiltern Railways are one of the most punctual rail operators in the UK’


Chiltern’s new service offers


Oxford commuters an alternative to travelling into London. The new service will offer two new trains per hour throughout the day between Oxford and London Marylebone with journey times to the capital from around an hour. A close collaborative


partnership between Chiltern Railways and Network Rail has delivered high levels of performance. Chiltern Railways are one of the most punctual rail operators in the UK and the company is consistently one of the top rated franchise operators for customer satisfaction in the National Rail Passenger Survey. Chiltern also run services from Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone, via Solihull, Warwick Parkway and Leamington Spa.


54 CHAMBERLINK February 2017


stop there, but it is just that it has been renamed ‘St Chads’. The stop was moved a few yards from Snow Hill


station to outside the One and Two Snow Hill office development, when the tram service was extended. The new name is the brainchild of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), who say that the main stop for Snow Hill station is now at nearby Bull Street.


However, a lift and stairs have been built at the


renamed St Chads, so that passengers can get from there directly to the Snow Hill mainline station. Phil Hewitt, Metro programme director for TfWM, said:


“The name change reflects the wider area that the stop serves and removes any potential for confusion with passengers who believe they can access Snow Hill station from it. Passengers can access Snow Hill by using the lift or stairs then the second access in Livery Street.” The former Metro platform in Snow Hill station is to


return to its former use by mainline trains, as part of the Midland Rail Hub scheme.


Presenting a united front on equality


United – which operates regular flights from Birmingham to Newark – has earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Corporate Equality Index for the sixth year running. It has also earned a spot on the


organisation’s list of ‘Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality’. After joining United in 2012, Sara McCook quickly recognised and


relished the impact of that inclusivity and openness on her own life. She said: “For the most part, right out of college I was open about


my sexuality to my friends and family, but I never fully embraced it in the workplace because I always felt that it would be considered a roadblock to my career – that changed when I joined United. “The leadership team where I started, in Denver, and ultimately


throughout the company, made it immediately known that this is a place where people are encouraged to bring their true, authentic self and that was very liberating.” Sara’s story, like those of many of United’s LGBT employees, is one


of acceptance, something that she credits not only to United’s policies of equal rights and benefits, but also to the attitudes of the company’s management and employees. Fully inclusive equal employment, workplace benefits and non- discrimination policies are core to United’s Working Together culture. The airline offers several programs that promote LGBT inclusion and


awareness. It sponsors an LGBT-focused business resource group, EQUAL, which provides ongoing networking, advocacy and outreach opportunities for its members, and consults with senior leadership on issues of equality.


Flybe introduce Budapest route


Chamber members Flybe have expanded their flight network by adding a new route to Budapest Airport. The airline have introducing a


three times weekly service to the Hungarian capital from London Southend. The route will be available to passengers from May. As of this summer Budapest will


directly serve 41 country markets, the UK being one of the largest market flown (in terms of weekly seats) from Hungary’s capital city airport. Joining existing links to London


Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton and London Stansted, Flybe’s new service to London Southend means Budapest will offer 14 daily flights consisting of over 34,000 two-way weekly seats to London in 2017. Budapest Airport’s CCO, Kam


Jandu, said: “Announcing the arrival of a new airline partner to the Hungarian market is a great way to start the year. “Flybe was looking for a first-


class European city-break destination and we’re certain Budapest will meet all expectations, in fact we’re extremely confident it won’t be long before we will be seeing a frequency increase on this route.”


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