29/02/2008

South West Trains has received special recognition for winning more honours than any other organisation over the past 10 years of the HSBC Rail Business Awards.

To mark a decade of the prestigious awards, South West Trains received a “winner of winners” award at the 2008 event, hosted by BBC News 24 presenter Nicholas Owen.

The honour was presented in recognition of the six awards the company has scooped over the last 10 years, including Rail Business of the Year in 2005.

South West Trains has transformed its service to passengers over the last 10 years, improving performance, providing better communication with customers and delivering on its commitment to the safety and security of staff and passengers.

The company also collected a highly commended certificate at the 2008 awards in the Rolling Stock Excellence of the Year category for the refurbishment of the class 159/1 diesel trains carried out in partnership with Wabtec and Porterbrook.

South West Trains and Network Rail were also highly commended in the Internal Communications Excellence of the Year category for the ‘Right Time Railway Internal Communications’ – a joint campaign to reinforce the message that every second counts when it comes to trains departing on time.

Stewart Palmer, South West Trains’ Managing Director, said: “I am delighted and proud to have this award, but let’s not forget we would not have it if it weren’t for the hard work and passion of everyone, past and present, who has played their part in helping South West Trains progress. It is also fantastic recognition by our peers of how far we have come and I am very proud of all our employees.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For further information or to arrange photocalls, please contact South West Trains’ Press Office on 020 7620 5229, or visit our website at www.southwesttrains.co.uk