PASSENGER INFORMATION IMPROVEMENTS

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1 WINTER 2012 YOUR STAFF MAGAZINE PASSENGER INFORMATION IMPROVEMENTS JOURNEY CHECK SYSTEM LAUNCHED PAGES 6 & 7 INVESTMENT IN TRANSLINK BUSES PAGES 10 AWARDS SUCCESS PAGES 12 & 13 COMPETITION! PAGE 24

2 Elaine McCann Editor WELCOME TO EXPRESSLINES Winter 2012 YOUR STAFF MAGAZINE Welcome! Welcome to the winter issue of Expresslines. We have lots of news from around the company including; the launch of Journey Check - Real Time Passenger Information system, a 29 million investment in Translink buses, and the launch of free WiFi on all NIRailways and Enterprise services and selected Goldline services. On the cover of this issue is Ulsterbus Inspector Gary Lawther, inside he gives us his personal training tips for a healthier lifestyle in Ben Simpson also tells us about his typical working day as a train driver. We have a round-up of our awards success and an update on the fantastic amount of money raised for charity by our staff. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue; remember to send in your news and photos for the next issue. Wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year. Elaine McCann Editor elaine.mccann@translink.co.uk Telephone: Post or pop in: Expresslines, Marketing Department, Translink, Central Station, East Bridge Street, Belfast BT1 3PB EXPRESSLINES IS THE STAFF MAGAZINE FOR TRANSLINK EXPRESSLINES Winter 2012 is published by Translink, the integrated public transport services provided by Metro, NIRailways and Ulsterbus. Our vision is to provide integrated travel solutions that are attractive, sustainable and good value. PRODUCTION Editorial: Marketing Department Design: Whitenoise, Photography: Various This magazine is available, upon request, in a range of formats eg, braille, large print or audio tape. Please ring Contents A Christmas Message A Christmas Message 03 Mail Box 04 All in a days work 05 Keeping you connected News 08 News in Brief 09 News 10 News in Brief 11 Awards News 14 News in Brief 15 Its all in the name of charity Health & Wellbeing 18 News in Brief 19 Promotions News in Brief 22 Nature Notes 22 Family Life 23 Competition 24 I am particularly pleased that we have strongly growing passenger numbers and high customer satisfaction. The fact that more people are choosing to travel with us is down to the hard work of everyone those who provide the infrastructure, those who provide the back room services and those in customer facing positions, only by all working together can such excellent progress be achieved. I would want to thank everyone for their hard work during the year and that is obviously recognised by many stakeholders our customers being key and in the awards we have received. Look forward to an exciting and challenging new year with many new developments on the horizon. With everyone pulling together we can go from strength to strength. I wish you all, and your family and friends, a joyful and peaceful Christmas and New Year. Special thanks go to those of you who will be working over the holiday period providing services to others. Catherine Mason Group Chief Executive I would like to thank you all for your continued hard work during the past year. Throughout 2012, the Board and myself have enjoyed meeting many of you where you work, and we have been impressed by your professionalism and commitment to the services we provide, which has been key to our many achievements this year. On behalf of my colleagues on the Board, may I wish you and your families a happy Christmas and New Year. John Trethowan Chairman Christmas / New Year Message from SIPTU To all Members of Staff employed in Northern Ireland Railways / Translink. SIPTU wishes you and your family a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Kevin McKinney Industrial Officer SIPTU Christmas Message from Unite the Union Dear Colleagues, the officers and staff at Unite wish to extend seasonal greetings to all our colleagues and their families at Translink. Davy McMurray Regional Officer Unite the Union Christmas Message from GMB Best wishes for the festive season to you all. I am sure you will agree 2012 has been a difficult year for everyone; let s hope 2013 shows improvement in which we can all benefit. I look forward to working with you in the future! I hope the New Year will provide an opportunity for us all to prosper. Enjoy the holiday. Michael Mulholland Regional Officer GMB Christmas / New Year Message from TSSA Once again it is our pleasure to extend season s greetings to all our TSSA members, to the representatives and members of our sister Trade Unions and to all with whom we do business throughout the Translink Group. Jim Kavanagh & Patrick McCusker TSSA Irish Office

3 04 Mail Box All in a days work 05 Translink NIRailways Conductor Stacey Loughlin is fantastic in a difficult situation When the Belfast/Londonderry train was hit by a car, Stacey the conductor did a fantastic job. She kept calm, kept everyone informed and dealt with a difficult situation in a professional manner. We were two hours late but given the extent of the damage and the situation everyone thought that was impressive. Translink staff were on site in moments and we got drinks and snacks which were by then very welcome. Everyone at Translink handled the crisis with good humour and understanding, especially Stacey. Well done! J Fowler New barriers installed at crossing provide improved safety and accessibility for users I would like to show my appreciation for the wonderful job you have made at the Dunmurry / Meeting House Lane pedestrian level crossing. It has made life so much easier for me as I am a wheelchair user. Many thanks to all concerned for a fantastic job. E Allen, Dunmurry Conductor Neil Deane is polite and professional Travelling ex Lurgan to Bangor service, the conductor is extremely friendly, full of smiles, polite and very professional. The train is spotless and I can even listen to my favourite online radio station through the on-board WiFi. A superb service indeed, many thanks NIR! K Small, via Facebook Translink Ulsterbus Positive impression by Newry Driver Yolanda Motta I travelled to Belfast from Newry and was really impressed by the driver; she was pleasant and courteous to every passenger, taking time to have a few words with each of them. On my return journey with the same driver, a tanker in front of us had a tyre blowout and this driver kept control of her vehicle and even parked up to check the tanker driver was ok when he managed to stop. I would just like to say a big well done, and that she made our day out a very memorable one in a very positive way. J McStay Excellent service from Driver Andrea Donaldson I wish to commend this driver for her standard of driving on two occasions. The first was a journey from Lisburn to Finaghy Crossroads; the driving skills were excellent, smooth acceleration, gentle braking, very aware of traffic flow and speeds, good attitude to passengers getting on and off. The second journey was from Finaghy Crossroads to Lisburn and the standard of driving was as the day before, but in addition she also allowed mature passengers time to move off towards their seats before closing the doors and moving off. On arriving in Lisburn, I once again expressed my pleasure in witnessing such good driving. Andrea obviously enjoys and takes pride in her work I would strongly recommend you reward her contribution to your company with a practical as well as personal recognition. Well done! J McDevitt, Belfast Translink Metro Falls Depot staff Cathy Devlin, Tom Walker and Bobby Barnes praised for kindness We appreciate your wonderful staff Cathy, Tom and Bobby and how much kindness and time they showed our two children. Both our children have autism along with other issues such as severe hearing difficulties, ADHD and Tourette s syndrome. Both have major obsessions with Metro and Ulsterbus fleet numbers and I recently rang on the chance we might get a quick visit to the Falls bus depot. I was amazed at our visit; I never expected such time and energy to be spent on the children. Cathy is a lady in a million, I wish there were more people like her, she answered all questions directed at her with love and patience. The bus tours were a dream come true - never to be forgotten! In short, I was shocked and surprised that they took so much time out of their day to spend with us and make little people s lives better. Please pass on our love and thanks once again to Tom, Cathy and Bobby. It s such a lovely way for Translink especially Metro to raise autism awareness, as it s often called a hidden disability. Hopefully more children like ours can enjoy visits too. Best wishes and forever thank you. The McLaughlin Family A pleasant journey with Driver Andy Marshall I just wanted to give some positive feedback about my driver this morning. I ve caught the same bus the past two mornings and his cheery greeting for every passenger is a joy! He makes the start to the morning much more pleasant. M Hegarty Special Events High praise for Translink s Olympic team Now that the Olympic and Paralympic operations are closed I am passing on some feedback to suppliers who stood out as having performed exceptionally well under new, and sometimes difficult, circumstances. Translink has proven to be a thorough and professional organisation, dedicated to ensuring the success of the project and sensitive to changing requirements. Your drivers and management team exhibited exemplary behaviour under difficult circumstances and carried out route learning and the first days of service in a professional manner. Your drivers were punctual, flexible and professional. The management staff did an excellent job of coordinating the staff on the ground. The high quality of your fleets and drivers and the flexibility, attitude and professionalism of your staff made Translink one of the strongest suppliers during the Olympics. L Battisegola, London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games Help and support from Maura Sloan, Brand Coordinator I can t thank you and the rest of the team enough for your help, support and warm welcome that we received at the Europa bus and train station in Belfast for the Get Safe Online, Click and Tell national tour. I hadn t visited Belfast before and fell in love with your beautiful city. Many, many thanks for your help and support. M Booker, Get Safe Online Ben Simpson, Train Driver Do you enjoy being a Train Driver? Having worked as a conductor for five years, my dream of becoming a train driver became a reality and I enjoy every minute of it. The responsibility of getting people to and from their destination is very rewarding and the flexibility that the job offers makes it the perfect choice for me. How does your working day begin? Typically I have an early start to the day, getting up at the crack of dawn whilst the rest of the family is still asleep. It s a quick turnaround in the morning shower, breakfast and organise my lunch. I aim to leave the house for 4.00am. What does a typical day involve? My first call of the day is to York Street where I sign in, check the operating instructions in case there have been any changes overnight, and check my route for the day. The Larne line is my favorite route as I have the opportunity to drive the new Class 4000 trains which went into operation in September. I leave the York Street depot at 5.00am and head to Central Station where I meet up with the conductor who will be working alongside me on that day. We take some time to run through the timetable and cover off any issues that could arise over the course of the day. Then I begin the Larne passenger service, a 50 minute journey to Larne stopping at Jordanstown, Carrickfergus and Whitehead along the way. It s a busy service more so now that the new trains are operating on this line. I continue along this route for most of the morning and have the opportunity to take in the scenic view that it offers. After an early start I head back to Central Station for my break. This gives me an opportunity to make a quick call home to check up on my family and catch up with my colleagues over a cup of tea. I head back down to the platform to get ready for the next service hopefully on another new Class 4000 train. How does your day end? I head back to York Street to submit my daily report, check the rota for tomorrow and sign out for the day. The advantage of having an early start means that I finish around 1.30pm and have the rest of the day to spend with my family. How do you relax after work? When I arrive home to Bangor I m met at the door by my boisterous two year old son. After a quick coffee and catch up with my wife, if the weather is nice we ll all head to the park and maybe get an ice-cream. I love to cook and organise our dinners, this is quickly followed by bath and bedtime for my son. Then I finally get a chance to put my feet up and enjoy some quality TV before heading to bed for another early start and I am looking forward to it already!

4 06 Keeping you connected 07 Rail Passenger Information Improvements Passengers on Translink NIRailways services are benefiting from the launch of Journey Check - Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) system. This major service development will improve overall rail passenger experience; providing customers with timely and relevant information on NIRailways services. The new system has been delivered as part of a wider group of projects under the Customer Information Programme which is working to provide better quality passenger information to our customers. Launched in early December, Journey Check is available on Translink s new, refreshed website and mobile site which has been optimised for smartphones. For rail passengers in particular, the Journey Check service development is another milestone of an overall improved customer information experience. Billy Windrum, Chief Traffic Controller Rail Operations, managed the delivery of Journey Check; Billy explains: The project focused on optimising data that was already captured for and sent to the NIRailways Control Office, who then were manually sending messages to the platform customer information boards in stations. Now the data is collected and automatically calculates arrivals, delays, and performance of Translink NIRailways services. Journey Check will automatically show if any train on the NIRailways network is running more than 1 minute late, if the delay is more than 10 minutes the Control Office will manually assign a reason for the delay, which will be relayed to customers using the Journey Check system. To use Journey Check passengers simply go to the Translink NIRailways website homepage for live train information, from there they can confirm that their service is running as planned or, if facing disruption, Journey Check will state the expected delay duration and advise on the reason behind it. Passengers can also use Journey Check to view general network information on railway lines, any train cancellations and railway improvement works. Customers can also save their preferred routes in Journey Check to speed up relevant information retrieval. Catherine Mason, Group Chief Executive, said: This system is great news for our customers and reflects our commitment to providing attractive travel solutions. The launch of Journey Check means that passengers can check the progress of their NIRailways service at anytime, anywhere using the internet. It aims to boost customer confidence by providing easily accessible and accurate live information, empowering passengers to make decisions about their journey. Improving information in journey for the customer helps provide a more reliable service overall by managing customer expectations and putting the customer in control. Importantly the Journey Check service will reinforce how well NIRailways performs. The latest independent research released in September 2012 shows that NIRailways services achieved a 100% on time score and beat reliability targets. Currently available for NIRailways services throughout Northern Ireland, plans are in place to introduce Journey Check on cross-border rail service in Pictured: Catherine Mason, Group Chief Executive, launches Journey Check - a Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) system available on Translink s website that will provide customers with live information on NI Railways services letting people check their train s progress before they even reach the station.

5 News News in brief WiFi Boost for Translink Passengers Let s Go Looking Good The recent supply of uniforms throughout Translink has resulted in a major refresh in terms of fabric quality and a smarter more professional image being conveyed to the travelling public. Ecar Trial Passengers across Northern Ireland can now avail of free WiFi on all NIRailways and Enterprise services and also on selected Goldline services. We are committed to continually innovating and improving our services and this new WiFi facility will allow us to further enhance the on board travel experience for our customers, giving an added incentive to choose public transport. Through introducing WiFi we are directly responding to changing passenger expectations and positioning ourselves as a modern and dynamic public transport provider. People in Northern Ireland are becoming increasingly technology-savvy. One in ten now own a tablet such as an ipad and 34% of adults also now own a smartphone. Around one third are accessing the internet via their mobile phone, so we are confident that a significant proportion of our passengers will benefit from our enhanced services. Whether it s catching up on work or personal s, latest news or browsing social media using public transport is clearly a smarter way to travel. To access the free WiFi service passengers will require a WiFi enabled device; all mainstream laptops, tablets, PDA s smartphones and web browsers are supported. On board trains More and more people are using the train and making better use of their travel time to catch up on s, engage in social media, web browsing or even planning their next trip. Independent research released recently indicates that customer satisfaction levels for NI Railways are at an all-time high and rail services achieved a 100% on time score, reflecting the benefits of the new Class 4000 trains. The addition of free WiFi will further enhance the overall travel experience for customers. At the WiFi launch for local rail services Mal McGreevy, General Manager Rail Services, said: Giving our customers free access to high speed internet makes rail travel even more convenient, attractive and flexible. With all our new Class 4000 trains now in passenger use the train offers great value, especially in the current climate where the costs of running a car continue to rise. On board Goldline The launch of free WiFi on board most Goldline services offers passengers travelling for either business or pleasure the opportunity to relax on board and browse the internet or catch up on some work while they commute. The delivery of 16 new vehicles in the New Year will further support the WiFi network. Pictured: David Lowry, Senior Technical Engineer, and local student James Hutchinson at the launch of the free WiFi service on local rail services. IRSE Young Members Visit Translink NIRailways recently hosted an Institute of Railway Signaller Engineers (IRSE) Younger Members technical visit. The group was made up of signaller engineers from operators and design houses across the UK, and they were given the opportunity to visit our Rail Operations Training Academy, Adelaide Train Maintenance Facility, Control Office, Central Signal Cabin, York Road Signalling and Engineering Facilities. Colin McVea, Signalling Maintenance Engineer, commented: This technical visit provided an excellent opportunity for us to showcase our Roll outs of uniform are a major logistical exercise reports Alan McCully, HR Manager, with around 44,000 garment items supplied to around 3,700 employees. Our current supplier, Dimensions, delivered the uniforms to around thirty locations where managers, uniform co-ordinators and staff generally played their part in the distribution and supply to colleagues. Some adjustment and standardisation to the range of garments enabled the company to improve fabric quality. It s very important we try to make improvements as best we can in times when budgets are unlikely to increase. Staff want to feel that what they wear is fit for purpose, is comfortable and looks good to customers. Broadly speaking the feedback from employees has been pretty satisfactory. A collection of old/unused uniform items will be arranged in early 2013, putting them to a worthy charitable purpose. facilities, as well as demonstrating our integration with other departments on service delivery. Some of those attending have been involved in projects including Adelaide and the Coleraine to Derry Line, so it gave them a chance to see their designs in action. Padraic Dunne, Chairman of IRSE Younger Members, explained: The technical visits for our younger members provide them with an insight into the signalling operations of a large transport organisation such as Translink. It also provides members with a unique opportunity to share expertise and knowledge and learn from other industry professionals. In October Translink took delivery of an Electric Renault Kangoo Van as part of a local ecar trial. ecar is bringing an electric vehicle charging infrastructure to Northern Ireland. With no tail-pipe CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions, the electric car is a step towards a more sustainable future. Plug-in electric vehicles use no petrol or diesel, with fuel prices being a cause of concern to many, they are becoming more appealing. The van was trialled for a week by Stephen Agnew from Metro Operations to transport mail between Translink s many Belfast sites. Stephen thought the van was great for city driving as it was automatic and the silence made for a pleasant drive. The only negative aspect was the length of the battery life; despite charging the battery overnight, a full charge did not allow Stephen to complete his daily routine. In spite of this, the overall experience was a very positive one and supports Translink s drive to reduce our carbon emissions and environmental impact. Should the life of the battery charge be extended, then the ecar would be a very viable option for the company. Pictured: Stephen Agnew from Metro Operations pictured with the Renault Kangoo ecar.

6 News News in brief Investment in Translink Buses Olympics Success In 2010 Translink were notified of our success in the tendering process for the provision of both drivers and vehicles for the Olympic Games Family Bus Services and signed a contract with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG). John Lundy, Executive and Business Support Manager, reports: At this point, we moved to a planning and preparation stage for delivery of this huge project. Recruitment commenced in 2011 for the selection of 140 drivers, 10 Inspectors, 6 Engineers and also Resident Support staff. Hire of additional vehicles to other Bus Operating Companies also allowed for additional resources from Translink to be used at the event. Much planning and preparation was undertaken by a Project Team consisting of staff with expertise in Engineering, Technical, Fleet, Human Resources, Health & Safety and Operations. Further close work and the support of the Unions aided and facilitated Translink in progressing to the operational phase. In July the first batch of 55 Double Deckers, 70 drivers, 6 Engineers, 10 Inspectors and the Resident Support drove to London; a further 70 drivers travelled by air with Frank Clegg, General Manager Bus Services, and a member of the Resident Support Team. Whilst in London, our team secured the most prestigious work on the contract, including carrying dignitaries from Buckingham Palace and athletes such as Usain Bolt! John added: The whole project was a complete success and despite the difficulties expected from such a huge event, our staff were noted to be completely professional and key to the success of the overall event. Each individual member of staff involved in this project had a role to play; from each Project Team member to every Driver, Inspector, Engineer and Resident Support staff everyone involved ensured this event was a success for Translink. I would sincerely like to thank every one of you for your efforts. Last Class 4000 train delivered ylink Update Translink will see a 29 million investment in our buses, including Single Deck and Double Deck Metro buses and Goldline coaches. A number of the Goldline Coaches and Metro buses have already gone into service with the remainder introduced in late 2012 and early The Goldline coaches will be delivering enhanced express services on key Goldline routes; when all these coaches are in service the majority of Goldline Express services will be operated with modern new vehicles of a very high standard of comfort and quality. The new Metro buses are replacing older vehicles in the fleet to make Metro Services 100% wheelchair accessible and the additional double decker vehicles will also enable Translink to enhance capacity on busy routes. The Department for Regional Development has provided funding towards the purchase of these buses and Transport Minister Danny Kennedy visited the Europa Buscentre in Belfast where he saw a sample of the 87 new Goldline Coaches and 58 Metro buses. Re-affirming the Department s commitment to investment in public transport the Minister said: My key objective in investing in public transport is to encourage commuters and other travellers to use public transport for their journeys instead of the private car and to travel more sustainably. In Northern Ireland, 67 of the 77 million public transport journeys made last year were on buses. There has also been good news with the latest passenger charter results showing customer satisfaction levels for Ulsterbus at an all-time high. Catherine Mason, Group Chief Executive, said: This major investment in our bus fleet ensures we continue to provide accessible and attractive bus services for Northern Ireland. Our engineers have worked hard with our suppliers to develop these modern vehicles to further enhance the overall travel experience and comfort for our customers. Through strong marketing and promotion of everyday value tickets, such as Smartlink and a programme of innovative offers and tickets such as Smart Saturday deals on Metro and one third off selected Goldline services after 9.30am we look forward to attracting even more customers to take advantage of the convenience, comfort and cost savings available with bus and coach travel. The arrival of train no.4020 completes the 114m investment order funded by the Department for Regional Development and continues the successful introduction of Class 4000 trains onto the local rail network. Translink NI Railways passenger numbers have risen by over 70% in the last 10 years and with the highest numbers in decades recorded last year it is expected the latest new fleet will enable Translink to build on this success. Pictured: (l-r) Following the signing of the Provisional Acceptance certificate for the final unit 4020 is Michael Keenan, CAF Testing Manager with Naomi Orr, Fleet Standards Engineer, and James Erwin, NTTP and Technical Manager. Since its launch during the summer over 8,000 ylink cards have been sold and over 200,000 journeys have been made on our bus & rail services. We have continued to promote the ylink travel card with events and competitions aimed at young people. Local band Twenty Second Century recently played a set at the Europa while ylink promotional leaflets were distributed. Twi-hards across Northern Ireland who signed up for a ylink card were in with a chance of winning tickets to see their vampire idols on the big screen at a special Translink ylink cinema screening of the final movie in the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, at the Movie House Dublin Road.

7 Awards IRTE Skills Challenge European Business Awards Investors in People Gold Standard Belfast Business Awards NI Railways was awarded UK National Champion status for Customer Service in the European Business Awards in London, one of only 16 organisations in the UK to achieve this status. We will now go forward to compete against other successful organisations from across Europe for a prestigious Ruban d Honneur, the next stage in the awards process. International Station Awards Newry Train Station was Highly Commended in the Small Station category at the International Station Awards held in Ipswich. Carbon Trust Standard Award Congratulations to Translink s Human Resources team, who have been awarded the Investors in People Gold Standard. This accolade is achieved by fewer than 1% of recognised organisations across the UK and is only given to those who can demonstrate excellence in developing and supporting their staff. Metro was the winner in the Business Innovation category of the Belfast Business Awards, for the highly successful Metro Smart Saturdays campaign. The award recognises the very real results that this campaign is delivering. Two of our Bus Engineers Adam McGrath and William Scott have celebrated receiving top honours in the national IRTE Skills Challenge competition. Adam works at the Ulsterbus garage in Derry and William at the Ulsterbus Coleraine depot, and together they won the Bridgestone-sponsored Mechanical & Electrical Award, beating technicians from across the UK for the top spot. The IRTE s key aims are to support, recognise and reward the competence of technicians who maintain buses and coaches, giving them an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities on a national stage. The competition saw teams from across the UK gathered at the S&B Automotive Academy in Bristol to slog it out in a series of technical challenges. William was very happy to follow on from his success last year when he took the Top Scoring Mechanical Technician spot: I was delighted to achieve award success again at this year s IRTE Skills Challenge, I thoroughly enjoy participating in the Skill Challenges as it provides an excellent opportunity to share expertise and experiences with other bus engineers from across the UK. First time competitor Adam was equally delighted with the win: Participating in the skills challenge was a great experience and winning an award was an excellent achievement as the calibre of the other competing engineers was so high. David Carson, Technical Engineer, commented: The work carried out by all our engineers is essential to the company as they not only ensure that our fleet is maintained to a high standard but also enable us to keep our services running. I congratulate everyone who participated in this competition and we look forward to participating again in Pictured: Mechanical & Electrical Award winners Adam McGrath and William Scott. Translink has once again been re-accredited with the Carbon Trust Standard Award, for reducing our carbon emissions by 3.1% (some 7,037 tonnes of carbon) over the last 2 years. A huge effort was made by employees across the business in order to reduce our carbon footprint, in particular, all our Eco Champions who have helped to drive our various environmental initiatives. This award shows our level of passion and enthusiasm to reducing carbon emissions year on year and improving our local environment to ensure a more sustainable future for the region. UK Bus Awards Metro were Highly Commended in two categories at the UK Bus Awards, for our Metro Smart Saturdays campaign and our Safety Bus, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in October this year. Pictured: The Human Resources team and Catherine Mason, Group Chief Executive, are presented with a certificate from Bill Gordon, IIP, to mark their achievement. Belfast Media Group Business Award Pictured: (l-r) Tim Brundle, Director of Innovation at University of Ulster, presents the Business Innovation Award to Ciaran Rogan, Translink Marketing Executive. Translink has been recognised for its contribution to the development of Irish Language at the Belfast Media Group Awards. Belfast Area Manager, Damian Bannon, commented: We work closely with the communities in Belfast who are passionate about the development of the Irish Language and Translink has been pleased to assist them with this effort. From the production of a range of signage, passenger information and schools safety materials in the Irish Language, along with our long-standing partnership with Féile An Phobail we are demonstrating our commitment to supporting diversity and inclusivity. Pictured: Belfast Area Manager, Damian Bannon, addresses guests at the Belfast Media Group Awards.

8 14 News News in brief 15 Keeping on track Belfast City Marathon 2013 Ballymoney railway bridge officially opens In 2011 Translink NIRailways partnered with the Met office for the first time to receive regular updates and forecasts on leaf fall. This year, the service has been fully embraced as part of NIRailways preparations, allowing us to predict where and when leaf fall on tracks will be greatest and make preparations to avoid train services being adversely impacted. The leaf fall predictor tool was developed in the late 1990s by the Met Office in order to help transport organisations manage their services between early autumn and winter. Leaf fall prediction reports, based on a red, amber and green system, are issued to the NIRailways Operations team by the Met Office, allowing them to publish an adhesion forecast to Train Drivers so they are forewarned of the level of adhesion risk and likelihood of experiencing slippery conditions. Drivers can then adjust their driving technique to avoid wheel slippage and incident. The predictor is based on average leaf fall for a particular time of year and is calculated on a daily basis, taking into account factors such as the previous and current day s weather. It also examines previous weather patterns and calculates how this may affect future fall. The service also helps to predict when to treat the rail head by water jetting and applying Sandite rail adhesive for maximum effect. Gary Cooley Rail Operations, reported, We have been treating our lines by water jetting and with Sandite since leaf fall began and are pleased with how the leaf fall predictor service from the Met Office has helped us to effectively plan and manage rail head maintenance and driving conditions and to raise driver awareness. When leaves fall on the rail line and are compacted by train wheels, they actually form a hard slippery surface which is similar to black ice on roads and is difficult to remove. This could lead to wheel slip, delays and even service cancellations. We clean the rails with our specially converted train fitted with high pressure water jets which remove compressed leaves from the line. Following this, another train sprays Sandite rail adhesive on the rails at known problem areas around the network to improve adhesion levels. In addition, Translink s train fleet is fitted with manual and automatic sanders and wheel slide protection systems to help combat the effects of poor rail head conditions. Our infrastructure team also uses leaf blowers to clear platforms and walkways. Why not set yourself a New Year s challenge and participate in the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon on Bank Holiday Monday, 6 May 2013? The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon is the largest sporting participatory event in Northern Ireland. Translink are delighted to once again sponsor this event which brings participants from all areas of the globe to the streets of the Belfast. There are five different events to suit all ages and abilities; Marathon Run, Wheelchair Marathon, Team Relay, 9 Mile Walk and the Fun Run. Close to 20,000 runners are expected to participate and you could be one of them! Alternatively you could help as a volunteer at a water station, route marshal or start/finish marshal on race day and help every participant reach their goal by crossing the finish line safely. Cancer Focus Northern Ireland is the official nominated charity for the 2013 event and participants are encouraged to raise funds for this important cause. The final cut-off point for entries is 19 April 2013 no entries will be accepted after this date. If you are interested in participating in any of the events or helping out as a volunteer click: or call the marathon hotline Ballymoney Train Station s new walking and cycling railway bridge was officially opened in November, marking the completion of a 1.3m investment project. The result of a successful partnership between the Department for Regional Development, Translink, Ballymoney Borough Council and national charity Sustrans; the project will benefit rail users, Visit from EU Transport Chair Brian Simpson MEP, Chair of the European Parliament s Transport Committee, recently visited Northern Ireland to learn more about our transport need and networks. pedestrians and cyclists in Ballymoney with a new, fully accessible, traffic-free bridge and extended park and ride facilities at the station. Pictured: (l-r) Peter Emerson, Dalriada School, Brooke Elston, Leaney PS, Grace Murray, Ballymoney Independent ChristIan School, Transport Minister Danny Kennedy MLA, and Caoimhe Flemming, St Brigid s PS. The European Parliament s Transport Committee is currently considering a new Trans-European Transport Network Regulation (TEN-T), and its funding instrument, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Regulation. These regulations will determine how people and goods move throughout the EU. Transport Minister Danny Kennedy said: It is important that we continue to work to ensure our transport infrastructure meets our future needs and supports economic growth by facilitating investment from other member states and beyond. Pictured: (l-r) On a tour of the new Train Maintenance Facility at Adelaide are Transport Minister Danny Kennedy MLA, Chairman John Trethowan, Group Chief Executive, Catherine Mason, and chair of the European Parliament Transport Committee Brian Simpson MEP.

9 Its all in the name of charity Billy Telford Events Success Northern Ireland Hospice Macmillan Cancer Help select Translink s new Charity Partner The staff at Ulsterbus Coleraine and Ballycastle Depots organised coffee mornings to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer, it was a great success with over 750 raised. Our current charity partner Diabetes UK Northern Ireland have been benefiting from our support since April To date a total of approximately 13,800 has been raised for the charity, helping raise awareness of this condition with all fundraising efforts going towards the local people of Northern Ireland. It was always planned to rotate this partnership and we want your help again in choosing our Charity Partner. Employees now have the opportunity to put forward their favourite charities helping to support the community within Northern Ireland. If you have a suggestion please the charity name and a short paragraph detailing why you feel it should be considered, along with your contact details to: ursula.kelleher@translink.co.uk Deadline for suggestions is 31 December 2012 Pictured: Relief Inspector Elaine Roberts and Driver Gary Gallagher. Translink Metro Football Cup RailRoad Charity Quiz Ulsterbus Tours were delighted to support the U105 Boogie Bus which hit the road with a team of U105 radio presenters from 1-6 October to help raise money for the Northern Ireland Hospice. Pictured: (l-r) Sean McGreevy, Travel Centre Manager, and Charlie McConicky, Tour Pool Driver, with Maurice Jay from U105 at the Boogie Bus launch. The Billy Telford Memorial Golf Day and Sponsored Walk events were once again a great success. This year around 130 people participated in the sponsored events raising a staggering 15,000. This was a fantastic achievement and the money was split equally between the Foyle Hospice, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Translink s charity partner Diabetes UK Northern Ireland. Cinty Stubberfield, Billy Telford Committee Member, said On behalf of the Committee I would like to thank everyone who participated and supported these events. Pictured: Robert Butler, Billy Telford Committee Member (centre) with Naomi Brown, Diabetes UK Northern Ireland; Terri Sythe, Foyle Hospice and Brian McDonagh, Guide Dogs for the Blind with his guide dog Innis and Stephen McBride. Diabetes UK Northern Ireland Translink were recently able to donate a cheque for to our nominated staff charity, Diabetes UK Northern Ireland. The money was raised through recycling our ticket roll cores, our ticket roll suppliers reimburse us for returned cores and we now donate 50% of the refund once carriage and admin costs are covered. The RailRoad Charity held a pub quiz in Morrisons bar on 22 November, with teams from Translink departments taking part for the very worthwhile cause. Congratulations to the winning team Who picked her? with victorious team members Linda Neilan, John Kennedy, Stephen Armstrong and Seamus Kane. Funds raised on the night were thank you to everyone who showed their support. Pictured: The winning RailRoad quiz team Who picked her? The Translink Metro Football Cup raised just over 1000 for the Lapland Trust which fulfils the dreams of terminally ill, long term ill and deserving children by taking them to see Santa at home in Lapland. The Inspectors and Managers played against the Drivers only to be beaten 4-1 and as a result lost their winning title! Emmanuel Walsh, Metro Inspector said The match was once again a great success and I would like to thank everyone who participated and supported us. We are delighted to be able to donate over 1000 to the Lapland Trust which will go towards bringing a group of deserving children to Lapland. We didn t win this year but hope to regain our winning title next year as well as supporting another worthy charity.

10 18 Health & Wellbeing News in brief 19 Get Fit in 2013 Keeping young people rail safe Jordanstown Park & Ride launched Eat a balanced diet You are what you eat! Make yourself healthier by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-calorie, low fat proteins. Avoid processed foods. If it doesn t grow or breathe then don t eat it. Check out the eat well plate for more information at: Pages/eatwell-plate.aspx Mini Challenges Start setting yourself achievable targets and goals by visiting: the site is free and fun and you can link it to your phone via app or follow them on Facebook and Twitter. It covers all levels of sports and fitness and when you complete the challenges you can measure your personal success Four years ago, Ulsterbus Inspector Gary Lawther from Bangor Bus Station was diagnosed with heart disease. Determined to make something positive from this life changing event, Gary studied to become a qualified Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer and has since established 3F Personal Training. He is keen to point out that, whilst some people are predisposed to ailments through hereditary conditions we can all benefit from improving our lifestyles. Here are Gary s key tips on how to do just that: Introduce regular activity Keep healthy, stress free and confident! Choose something, initially, that you can stick to, like walking to work or the shops a few times a week and build up from there. Try to work out with a friend for extra motivation. Set yourself goals and work towards them Success breeds success! Build your own framework for self-improvement and relish in the confidence boost you will get from completing your goals then set some more. Reduce your alcohol intake A little of what you fancy - in moderation! Most of us could benefit from cutting down on the empty calories. Drink more water Sounds simple but H2O keeps your digestive system functioning, helps you fight germs and ensures you stay refreshed. A hydrated body can perform much more efficiently. Stop smoking Enough said! Try to break the habit and feel the benefit of a healthier life. Smile! Be positive and enjoy life and you ll feel so much better. Happiness comes from within and it s contagious. For more tips and fitness information follow Gary on: Winter Super Foods Fish The vitamin D in fish might help relieve mood disorders by increasing the amount of serotonin - one of the neurotransmitters responsible for the feel good factor in the brain. Eggs Omega-3 fatty acids found in eggs are natural mood lifters and may even help alleviate depression and help to keep your memory and brain function sharp. Wholegrains Wheat, barley, oats, and rice are known to be important for overall digestive and heart health, and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. uk/healthydiet/ nutritionessentials Translink NI Railways are working together with the PSNI to remind young people and their parents to always put safety first. Some groups of young people are tempted to hang around railway tracks or use them as shortcuts, putting themselves and others at extreme risk of serious accident. Our trains are very quiet and run at speeds of up to 90 mph and can be hard to hear until they are very close-by, making it impossible to predict when the next train will be running along the track. Frank Moore, Northern Area Route Manager, commented: We want everyone to remember the dangers and serious consequences of going near railway tracks and urge parents to reinforce this message to their children. Whitehead level crossing Keith Pollock, Level Crossing Risk Coordinator, reports, There have been a number of recent incidents of misuse at the Whitehead pedestrian crossing with people dashing across the tracks while the red lights are illuminated and the warning alarm is sounding. Translink NIRailways teamed up with the PSNI s neighbourhood policing team to distribute safety leaflets advising pedestrians of the risks at Whitehead level crossing if not used correctly and to encourage them to never take chances. We ve also carried out a mailing to residential addresses in Whitehead. The activity is all part of our on-going safety campaign to promote the safe use of level crossings. Pictured: Frank Moore, Northern Area Route Manager (left), and Keith Pollock, Level Crossing Risk Coordinator (right), teamed up with the PSNI s neighbourhood policing team. A new Park & Ride facility opened at Jordanstown Train station in October. Louise Sterritt, Project Manager, reported: The busy train station previously had no Park & Ride facility so this new site will now provide Translink NIRailways customers with parking to accommodate 66 cars including 4 disabled car parking spaces. Secure fencing, gates, new lighting, signage and CCTV have also been installed. The facility is easily accessible and there is pedestrian access from the car park to the station platform. The new Park & Ride facility will help to accommodate growing passenger numbers and alleviate traffic congestion in the area. It will further benefit the local community and help to attract more people to choose the train. Pictured: (l-r) Pat Cleary, Cleary Contracting Ltd, Louise Sterritt, Project Manager, and Frank Moore, Northern Area Route Manager, on site during construction of the new facility.

11 Promotions Christmas Only in Belfast Campaign NI Railways 1/3 off campaign Enterprise Winter Web Fare Campaign Park & Ride Christmas Campaign During the festive season, Translink joined forces with Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau to invite everyone to enjoy the most magical Christmas experience Only in Belfast. This large multi-media campaign encourages everyone to go by bus, coach and rail to shop, stay and celebrate in Belfast. The campaign will run in Northern Ireland and RoI on TV, radio, outdoor, press, digital and social media. Special radio ads and a Christmas in Belfast leaflet will also promote the range of great value Translink tickets available over the Christmas period. Why not encourage your friends and family to go car free, care free and enjoy the magic of Christmas Only in Belfast with Translink. Goldline Campaign Experience the Gold standard in coach travel. With choice, value & free Wi-Fi, you re better connected with Goldline. A new Goldline Campaign ran during September and October to promote the introduction of new Goldline i4 coaches. Outdoor, bus and radio advertising promoted leather seats, extra legroom and free WIFI available on i4 coaches. * 1/3 off * for a festive day out! day returns * after 9.30am A new advertising campaign was launched at the end of November to promote the 1/3 off day return tickets offer on local rail. This promotion continues to generate additional journeys and revenue after 9.30am, both up by 8% year on year. The campaign targets Christmas shoppers and festive season party-goers to encourage them to get out and about in November and December using the train. Advertising includes outdoor adshels and phone kiosks in key shopping areas and locations near to railway stations. Press and digital advertising is also being carried out in December. *Bookings must be made at least 3 days in advance. Conditions apply. Web day returns from Love Metro Saturdays An advertising campaign to promote web fares on Enterprise is running during November and December - targeting people living in Greater Belfast, Lisburn, Portadown and Newry to encourage them to take a day-trip for Christmas shopping or an overnight stay. The headline fare of 10 day return is being promoted as well as further details of offers and incentives in a leaflet and on the Translink website. Advertising includes a competition on Cool FM, outdoor, press and digital adverts. New vouchers offering 1 off taxi fares to and from Belfast Central Station, or a day s car parking at Central Station for 4, are being mailed to Enterprise web fare customers as added value to the service. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board are running a campaign to promote Northern Ireland in Dublin during November and December; offering spot prizes for 30 couples to win an overnight stay in Belfast including return travel on the Enterprise. To encourage more people to travel with us during the festive season, Translink are providing additional late night Park & Ride bus services in Belfast, Lisburn, Newry and Derry. Free travel is also available on selected Translink Park & Ride Services. Outdoor and local press advertising will run during the period to support the campaign. The successful Love Metro Saturdays promotion has been extended until 5 January 2013, giving more people the chance to take advantage of the great value 2 Day Ticket on Metro every Saturday. During the promotion passenger journeys on Saturdays have increased by 9-10%. Campaign advertising has been given a Christmas feel for our press, bus and outdoor advertising in Belfast. A range of high impact marketing and PR initiatives including Street Teams, giveaways and joint activity with partners including Belfast Fashion Week, U105 and Belfast Festival at Queen s have continued to make the promotion a success. * Conditions apply Extra evening services and FREE return journeys after 4.30pm Mon-Fri and all day Saturday til 22nd December.* Look who s using FREE Park & Ride this Christmas

12 News in brief Nature Notes Family Life Pilot Service to Altnagelvin Hospital Recording Wildlife in Translink 40 Years Service Car Insurance Offer Adelaide Insurance Services in partnership with the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) recognise the high standard of driving skills acquired by Translink Bus/Coach drivers and are rewarding them with cheaper* car insurance. Translink owns a variety of buildings and structures, and over 200 miles of track; these contribute to the local landscape, providing essential habitats for a variety of species. We recently received some great sightings from our contractors FP McCann, who have spotted geese, swans, a seal, foxes, cranes, a buzzard and a kestrel, along the Derry to Coleraine Line. If you have any wildlife sightings on Translink property, why not take record and/ or take a picture and send it to: biobuzz@translink.co.uk With their enhanced driving skills, Adelaide see Translink Bus/Coach drivers as less of an insurance risk on the road than the average car driver, therefore are offering a car insurance package comprising: 12 months FREE Affiliate Membership of the IAM (worth 15) which offers further discounts on personal car insurance from IAM Surety (the IAM s official insurance service, administered by Adelaide Insurance Services). Register for a quote to WIN a FREE car or home insurance policy! Online: or Tel: Translink recently launched Pilot Service 294, which operates every Wednesday and Thursday from Enniskillen to Altnagelvin Hospital. This service is made possible by the Department for Regional Development s Rural Transport Fund and helps make an important contribution to reducing social exclusion in rural areas. The service calls at the new South West Acute Hospital, Omagh Buscentre, Strabane Buscentre as well as a range of neighbouring rural locations before arriving at Altnagelvin Hospital. Community Transport can also assist by bringing their passengers from home and linking them to the pilot service for onward travel. Michelle Rafferty, Rural Transport Development Manager, said: The service provides an important transport link for many people; it is especially helpful for anyone attending hospital appointments and also improves service integration, helping passengers make onward connections. Pictured: (l-r) Sean Falls, Service Delivery Manager Omagh & Enniskillen, with Enniskillen Driver Niall Jones at Altnagelvin Hospital. Our commitment to Biodiversity The first ever Translink Swift Tower has been implemented at the new Adelaide site in Belfast. The main aim of the swift tower is to encourage and provide swifts with a safe and permanent nesting opportunity. This will contribute to the conservation effort to protect Northern Ireland s swift population as they are in rapid decline, and recognised as a priority species by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Once a pair of breeding swifts find, occupy and use a nest site, they return to the same nest site year after year. We look forward to them returning to Northern Ireland in 2013 for their breeding season and hopefully our new tower will swiftly become a permanent residence! Did you know: We own sites that are designated as Areas of Special Scientific Interest which are protected both nationally and internationally. Designated areas represent the best of our wildlife and geological sites that make a considerable contribution to the conservation of Northern Ireland s most valuable natural places. Catherine Mason, Group Chief Executive, presented Robert Butler, Operations Support Administrator at Ulsterbus Derry, with his 40 Years Service Badge. Spouse/Partner Pass Re-Issue On 31 March 2013 current spouse/partner passes will expire and no longer be valid for travel on Translink bus and rail services. In order to ensure an efficient system for re-issue, employees will be sent a letter attached to their payslip in December 2012 to inform them of the expiry date of the spouse/partner pass and to recommend that they update their spouse/partner photograph. Photographs must be received by HR Services by 15 January It is anticipated that replacement passes will be sent to Line Managers in early March 2013, and employees will be required to exchange current passes for replacement passes. Employees who have never been issued with a spouse/partner pass and wish to apply for one, should complete and return the form Application for Staff Travel for Spouse/Partner of Staff when they have completed their probationary period. Your cooperation during this spouse/partner pass re-issue is greatly appreciated. Please supply one valid contact method and a car and home insurance renewal date. This enables Adelaide Insurance to contact you prior to your insurance renewal date with a competitive quote. By providing these details Translink employees are automatically entered in the competition to WIN a FREE car or home insurance policy. Competition closes end March 2013 and the winner will be contacted by phone in April Terms and conditions apply.to qualify for the IAM Surety offer, Translink Bus/Coach drivers must hold Licence Types D or D+E. All Translink staff can register for a quote to be entered into the competition. *90% of IAM members who met acceptance criteria and received a quote from IAM Surety between Jan 2008 and Sept 2012 found their insurance cost less. Retirement Trevor Dixon, Chief Driving Instructor at the Driving School, (pictured on the right holding his special presentation mirror) retired in September after 34 years of service. His colleagues and friends at Translink would like to wish him a long and happy retirement.

13 24 Competition WIN! WIN! WIN! Crossword Competition We have a 100 voucher up for grabs! The first correct entry pulled out of the hat will win a voucher to the value of 100. The lucky winner will then be able to choose a voucher from one of the following stores: Marks & Spencer, Boots, Argos, B&Q, Sainsburys and Tesco. Send your completed crossword along with your contact details to: Expresslines Crossword Competition, Marketing Production, Central Station, Belfast, BT1 3PB. Closing date Friday 25 January 2013 Name Staff Number Address Daytime Telephone ACROSS DOWN A tower at Adelaide will provide which bird with a safe and permanent nesting opportunity? 6 The ecar vehicle Translink trialled doesn t use petrol or diesel but runs on which energy source? 8 A new walking and cycling railway bridge was officially opened at which station? 9 What falling on rail lines can lead to wheel slip, delays and even service cancellations? 10 Passengers across Northern Ireland can get free WiFi on NIRailways and Enterprise services and also on which other selected services? 1 Translink joined forces with Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau to invite everyone to enjoy Christmas in which city? 2 During which month was the Journey Check Real Time Passenger Information system launched? 3 In which UK city was the recent IRTE Skills Challenge held? 5 Translink recently distributed safety leaflets advising pedestrians of the risks at which level crossing? 7 Which winter super food is known to be important for overall digestive and heart health? A pilot service was recently launched from Enniskillen to which hospital? 12 A new Park & Ride facility opened at which station in October?