Greater Manchester has scooped three major transport awards at a prestigious national ceremony.
The Metrolink Airport Line won the ‘Civil Engineering Achievement of the Year’ award, while the work of Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) Disability Design Reference Group (DDRG) secured the ‘Putting Passengers First’ award at last night’s 2015 National Rail Awards event.
Held annually, the awards recognise and celebrate the best people, organisations, stations and projects in the railway industry.
The £400m, 14.5km-long Airport Line, which opened in November 2014, was highlighted as a project that had not only been delivered a year ahead of schedule, but also one that had strong environmental management and had engaged and communicated effectively with communities.
Judges were complimentary of the scale and nature of the work, highlighting the 580-tonne motorway bridges, the 337m-long viaduct over the Mersey Valley and the remodelling of 28 highway junctions. They also praised how the project is exceeding passenger targets by 20% and is delivering economic regeneration and employment opportunities to a number of deprived communities.
The DDRG, established by TfGM in 2008, ensures that accessibility for passengers is fully embedded in the £1.5bn expansion of the Metrolink network.
Judges praised the work of the group, in particular their attention to detail, good quality feedback and excellent design improvements which make the Metrolink network genuinely accessible.
Following completion of the fourth platform in May, the TransPennine Express-managed Manchester Airport station was also successful in the ‘Large Station of the Year’ category. The facility was described by judges as a model interchange station that was easy to use.
Transport for Greater Manchester’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jon Lamonte, said: “The Metrolink Airport line provides a vital connection between Manchester city centre, Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport, improving access to thousands of jobs. It really is a transformative project that delivers real economic benefits to Greater Manchester, and one that we completed a whole year ahead of schedule.
“I’m also delighted by the DDRG’s win last night. Making public transport more accessible is a perfect example of our mission in action: by working with the DDRG and involving our customers from the outset, we’re making travel easier in Greater Manchester for everyone.
Billy Vickers, First TransPennine Express’ Manchester Airport station manager, said: “We’ve invested heavily into improving Manchester Airport station, from launching free Wi-Fi, opening a new customer information centre and training all our staff to World Host standards. Winning the ‘Large Station of the Year’ award is fantastic recognition of this investment, and also testament to the hard work our station team put into delivering great customer service every day.”
The 2015 ceremony was held last night at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
