Whatever First Great Western’s woes, the company is to be congratulated on taking two awards – one for re-engining its High Speed Trains, the other for the renewed interiors of the trains’ coaches – at the Rail Business Awards.
The awards have been around for a decade now. They reflect many changes in the industry but also many of the day-to-day disciplines so necessary to running a successful and efficient railway.
The steady hand is illustrated by main award (Rail Business of the Year) sponsor Interfleet which, having won it in the first year, has subsequently sponsored the title. Interfleet’s claim to fame now is that it is the only former BR business still with its original buyers.
To BR ‘hands’, South West Trains is a newcomer on the block but it had a special award this year for its consistent award-winning over the last decade.
The top awards this year went to Northern Rail – even more of a newcomer. With more than a few challenges this little-mentioned franchise has devilled away at the detail, raising its performance and its reputation.
While, quite rightly, leading industry figures press for high-speed lines, electrification and more trains, as the award winners have shown the industry must never forget it is today and tomorrow (as in after midnight tonight) that is the first priority.
Companies like Northern, SWT and Interfleet may not be the biggest names in the industry but their contributions must never be under-estimated.