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BEST CUSTOMER INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

INNOVATION OF THE YEAR

MOST SIGNIFICANT SAFETY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

EMPLOYEE/TEAM OF THE YEAR

CAMPAIGNER OF THE YEAR

PROJECT OF THE YEAR

WORLDWIDE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

WORLDWIDE PROJECT OF THE YEAR

OPERATOR OF THE YEAR

JUDGES’ SPECIAL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTReproduced with permission of Tramways & Urban Transit

Light rail operators and scheme promoters must be wondering how they can hold on to current UK transport minister Norman Baker after he was gushing with his praise at the industry’s flagship event in London on 5 October.

The MP, now in his second year as Under-Secretary of State for Transport, acted as super sales-man again when he addressed over 250 senior figures from across the globe at the 5th Annual Light Rail Awards, now a major international event with entries from the United States, Australia, Spain, France, Norway, Hungary and Germany.

Mr Baker declared: “I am a ful-ly paid-up member of the light rail supporters club, which is a very happy coincidence, seeing as I’m also the Minister responsible for this particular mode of travel.

“I’m proud to say that I have been a champion of light rail in and out of Ministerial office. I be-lieve it’s a transport system with a bright future.

“It boasts a track record which shows that it is safe, fast and relia-ble. And it’s also one of the green-est and cleanest forms of transport – no emissions at source, very little noise and, with the right scheme in the right place, the potential to en-courage people out of their cars.”

Mr Baker passed brief com-ment on the publication of the long-awaited Green Light for Light Rail document, which will be kicked into action by a pan-industry summit that he will be chairing in London in November.

“All of us – Government, opera-tors, manufacturers, investors, and

constructors – have to make sure that light rail has a bright and pro-gressive future in this country.”

After commenting on the high standards of this year’s awards entries, respected broadcaster and returning Light Rail Awards mas-ter of ceremonies Nicholas Owen commented: “An event such as this can never totally reflect all the good things that are going on in the world, and it’s always sad that many of the most enlighten-ing projects simply don’t reach the eyes of the judges.”

The judging panel consisted of Gradimir Stefanovic, consult-ant and senior UITP committee member; Axel Kühn, a tram-train expert, civil engineer and leading analyst from Karlsruhe, Germany; Andrew Braddock, Director Gen-eral of UKTram and Chairman of the Light Rail Transit Association; and Howard Johnston, TAUT Pub-lisher and senior member of the UK’s Light Rapid Transit Forum.

‘I’M A FULLY PAID-UP LIGHT RAIL SUPPORTER’The UK wants to become a world light rail player, transport minister Norman Baker tells the Light Rail Awards’ audience.

THE LIGHT RAIL AWARDS

2011BEST CUSTOMER INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR Highly Commended: Serco Docklands – Community Ambassadors and Accessibility ProgrammeWINNER: National Express, Midland Metro – Communications Upgrade

SUPPLIER OF THE YEARHighly Commended: MPT Consortium – Manchester Metrolink Phase 3WINNER: Mott MacDonald


SPONSORED BY

Highly Commended: Centro – Community Payback ProjectWINNER: Alstom – Appitrack

MOST SIGNIFICANT SAFETY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

SPONSORED BY

Highly Commended: Nexus – Interactive Safety Teaching PackWINNER: Transport for Greater Manchester – Metrolink School Engagement Project

ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE OF THE YEARHighly Commended: Veolia Transdev, DublinWINNER: Tranvía de Murcia, Spain

EMPLOYEE/TEAM OF THE YEAR Highly Commended: Manchester Metrolink – Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Team Highly Commended: Serco Docklands – Closures TeamWINNER: British Transport Police – East Croydon


SPONSORED BY

WINNER: Mike Connelly

PROJECT OF THE YEARHighly Commended: Centro – Great Charles Street BridgeWINNER: Transport for Greater Manchester and MPact-Thales – Manchester Metrolink extensions

WORLDWIDE SUPPLIER OF THE YEARWINNER: Bombardier Transportation

WORLDWIDE PROJECT OF THE YEARSpecial Mention: Miskolc, Hungary – Green Arrow ProjectHighly Commended: Gold Coast Rapid Transit, AustraliaHighly Commended: Dallas Area Rapid Transit – Green Line, USAHighly Commended: Angers Tramway, FranceWINNER: Bybanen Bergen Light Rail, Norway


SPONSORED BY

Special Mention: Veolia Transdev, DublinWINNER: DB Regio Tyne & Wear

JUDGES’ SPECIAL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTWINNER: London Tramlink Recovery Team

The 2011 awards ceremony welcomed guests from nine countries, showing the current buoyant nature of the global light rail industry.

Declaring his support for light rail, UK transport minister Norman Baker MP delivered the welcome address to the biggest ever Light Rail Awards.

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www.caf.net

It incorporates light materials, highly-efficient equipments, and an optional and innovative that allows catenary-free operation.

A crucial advance that provides significant The new generation of trams and light energy saving and responds to the growing rails, URBOS, responds to eco design demand of environmentally-friendly requirements. transport networks.

ACR system

“Solution to energy efficiency”

URBOS

Mott MacDonaldLeaders in light railTrain, metro, light rail, tram, trolleybus or bus – Mott MacDonald has the knowledge, skills and imagination to help deliver an attractive, successful and affordable project. We help plan sustainable, environmentally responsible transport systems that enhance community life – both now and for future generations.

We thank our many clients from across the LRT sector for their kind words of support and are proud to be named the 2011 Light Rail Awards Supplier of the Year.

[email protected]

WWW.MOTTMAC.COM

Reproduced with permission of Tramways & Urban TransitReproduced with permission of Tramways & Urban Transit

HIGHLY COMMENDED:SERCO DOCKLANDS – COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS AND ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAMME

The first award of the evening celebrated those projects that make a difference to the life of the fare-paying passenger. Whether it’s a revised maintenance regime for stops and sta-tions, improved ticketing or passenger information systems or simply increasing staffing levels, the substantial number of entries in this category showed that manufacturers and operators treat customers with the utmost respect.

The first highly commended honour was given to Serco Docklands for its Community Ambassador programme which over the past 12 months has seen seven new recruits dedicated to the task of making travel easier and increasing social inclusion through its successful Accessibility trips.

Over 4000 free trips have been offered over the 12-month period with the Community Ambassadors, and research shows that 95% of those who may have previously felt re-stricted by disability or fear have now been converted to travelling on the Docklands Light Railway independently.

The category winner was the National Express/Midland Metro initiative to upgrade its passenger information offering in a GBP500 000 project, with state-of-the-art facilities including new CCTV cameras, emergency help points and real-time passenger information at its stops. A simple project, but one that has addressed the cause of so many customer issues dealt with in one fell swoop – and to tight budgets and timescales.

Fred Roberts, Managing Director of Midland Metro told TAUT: “We are thrilled to be selected by the judging panel as the overall winner. The direct benefit to our customers is the provision of reliable and timely communications, both visually and audibly, presented on a DDA compliant system. As a result, customers receive up-to-the-minute information on service status during normal service and, perhaps more importantly, during service disruption so they can make an informed choice on their ongoing travel options.”

BEST CUSTOMER INITIATIVE

WINNERNATIONAL EXPRESS, MIDLAND METRO

– COMMUNICATIONS UPGRADE

HIGHLY COMMENDED: MPT CONSORTIUM – MANCHESTER METROLINK PHASE 3

With complex supply chains for everything from large civil engineering contracts and new vehicle fleets to light bulbs and landscaping, to function efficiently a light rail system requires a network of relationships with suppliers where everyone performs to their absolute best.

In this respect, the first honour in the Supplier of the Year category was bestowed upon the MPT consortium for its ongoing work in delivering the next 64km (40 miles) of the UK’s Manchester Metrolink network. In a GBP1.5bn build, the judges were particularly impressed by the consortium’s environmental initiatives to keep waste to a minimum and its impressive safety record of two million working hours without incident. The Highly Commended award was col-lected by Bryan Diggins on behalf of the MPT Consortium.

But the judges singled out one particular organisation for its ongoing role in everything light rail-related. Mott Mac-Donald’s multi-disciplinary teams advise on every aspect of light rail construction and operation, and the judges said: “There isn’t a tramway in the UK – and there are a good number of others around the world – where this busy firm has not parked its footprint.

“If you’re building a tramway or you’re considering a tram-train conversion, how do you get decent advice on what vehicles to buy? If you need to design the layout of your depot, reduce noise levels or even find the right colour for the handrails, you need to learn from someone who’s been there before and knows all the pitfalls. Mott MacDon-ald are a one-stop shop for light and urban rail excellence.”

Mott MacDonald’s Light Rail Practice Leader, David Hand, and Associate Director and Head of LRT rolling stock Mark Terry collected the award. Mr Hand told TAUT: “UK experience can compete with the best in Europe. We bring a new approach and come in with something different. I’ve got real faith in our industry and these are exciting times.”

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

WINNERMOTT MACDONALD

HIGHLY COMMENDED: CENTRO – COMMUNITY PAYBACK PROJECT

In an industry full of exciting ideas and seemingly endless new solutions, this category always attracts a large number of entries, proving that the light and urban rail industry glo-bally has much to be proud of when it comes to developing solutions for complex technical problems – and also prides itself in questioning existing practices and coming up with new ways of addressing everyday operational issues.

For 2011, there were a great number of entries, and the judges singled out three for particular recognition. As such, the Highly Commended honour was given to West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive Centro (UK) for its Community Payback Project.

This scheme highlights excellent cross-authority co-op-eration to mobilise 40 workgroups of offenders to tackle litter, graffiti and vandalism on the Midland Metro network. Customer satisfaction figures show the results, and crime figures on the network have also dropped. Centro’s Finance Director James Aspinall collected the award from Keith Rudd, UK Director of Rail from award sponsor Arup.

The winning entry came from Alstom Transport, with its Appitrack machine that is revolutionising the process of laying light rail track. Capable of laying 400 metres of track in a single day, the Appitrack machine is, in fact, two machines in one. The first pours the concrete precisely to a laser-guided route, while the second attached machine fol-lows and inserts the rail fastenings.

Capable of completing this laborious task four times as quickly as traditional methods, Appitrack has been used in Reims and Angers in France, Algiers in Algeria and Jerusa-lem in Israel amongst others.

Three representatives from Alstom Transport took to the stage to collect the 2011 Innovation of the Year award.


WINNERALSTOM – APPITRACK

HIGHLY COMMENDED: NEXUS – INTERACTIVE SAFETY TEACHING PACk

MOST SIGNIFICANT SAFETY INITIATIVE

WINNERTRANSPORT FOR GREATER MANCHESTER –

METROLINK SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT PROJECT

SPONSORED BY

The first commendation in this important category – one taken very seriously by the industry as a whole – was given to a network owner that hasn’t had to report a serious inci-dent involving a child in nearly 20 years.

This comes through an excellent programme of education in the region’s schools, made all the more impressive by its use of technology over the past 12 months. Light Rail Awards host Nicholas Owen said: “Over 9 000 schoolchildren are visited each year to hammer the message home, and it’s all high-tech stuff nowadays in this innovative programme de-vised by Youth Liaison Officer Rebecca Ditchburn.

“It can be used by teachers without her even being there and has proved very successful in broadcasting the safety message far and wide. An hour’s tuition really can help you live longer.”

But the judges singled out a winner in the form of Trans-port for Greater Manchester’s initiative that over the past year alone has visited 360 schools within a mile (1.6km) of its new lines using eye-catching posters and literature to broad-cast the message that construction sites aren’t impromptu playgrounds and illustrating the risk involved with trespass.

The judges remarked: “The building worker on the warn-ing poster is an ugly guy, and his message hits you in the face – KEEP OUT! Building sites are dangerous places, so if you step over the line, you could easily get seriously injured or even killed. If you do survive, and get caught, you’ll certainly get prosecuted. The message is blunt, but incredibly effective with just two minor incidents of tres-pass in three years.”

Transport for Greater Manchester’s Jim Critchley and Philip Purdy collected the trophy from David Hand of award sponsor Mott MacDonald.

SPONSORED BY

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HIGHLY COMMENDED:VEOLIA TRANSDEV, DUBLIN

The first commendation in this new category for 2011 was given to a simple initiative to promote environmentally- conscious thinking at one of Europe’s busiest operators. With new extensions opening throughout 2011, Veolia Transdev in Dublin recognised the need to further educate its staff – and in a fun way.

The judges’ said: “The best way to secure the commit-ment of staff is to have fun. Giving its staff the chance to spin around the depot in electric cars was a fantastic way of illustrating the effects of energy consumption – not only on company profits, but also in terms of saving the planet.”

Managing Director Brian Brennan collected the trophy from UK Transport Minister Norman MP.

Describing the winning entry, the judges recognised the efforts of the team at Tranvía de Murcia, Spain, in pushing its new tramway’s benefits in a very visual, and public, way.

Light Rail Awards host Nicholas Owen remarked: “What a staggering idea – hand in your car, and we’ll give you a lifetime travel pass. At the start, no-one believed it. Howev-er, one day a woman in her 50s walked into the tramway’s office and surrendered the keys to her Renault Twingo.

“With around 200 000 other motorists still clogging up the roads in this European city, there’s certainly plenty of scope to develop the scheme. Best of all, it isn’t costing the operators a penny as private companies are sponsoring the whole thing.”

Mayor of Murcia Miguel Angel Cámara Botía made the 2000-mile round trip to collect the award, and told TAUT: “We have to get used to a new way of travelling. You can live as well as before – or better. This is just one initiative to get people out of their cars and onto the new tramway.

“The award is a great incentive to keep up the good work and we are looking for further private sponsors to keep it going and remove more cars from the streets of Murcia.”

ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

WINNERTRANVÍA DE MURCIA, SPAIN

One of the most popular awards of the evening, the employee/ team accolade usually goes to the unsung heroes, those people who make sure our systems operate efficiently through tireless hard work and passion for their jobs.

Again, with so many entries it was a difficult decision, but the judges began with the Manchester Metrolink Stake-holder Engagement and Communications team. In just 18 months this small team attended over 800 meetings and sent out more than 300 mailings to make everyone fully aware of every step of the extensive expansion of the system.

A second Highly Commended award was given to the Closures Team of Serco Docklands, again for its work in communicating clearly and honestly with passengers as the system underwent major works in the past year.

The judges remarked: “Honesty is always the best policy and clarity in communication is crucial to attaining cus-tomers’ trust. In the modern age, closure messages need to be broadcast in every medium and the Serco Docklands team has always proved its excellence in this respect.”

The winning entry however came not from a manufac-turer or an operator, but instead from a police force. The British Transport Police were honoured for their incred-ible work in slashing crime figures in and around London’s Tramlink system, making passengers feel safe and secure as they travel on one of the UK’s finest light rail systems.

The judges said: “The statistics do the talking and this team has some of the best detection rates of police forces in the South East of England.”

Inspector Jack Ioannau picked up the award on behalf of the British Transport Police in East Croydon.

EMPLOYEE/TEAM OF THE YEAR

WINNERBRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE

– EAST CROYDON

HIGHLY COMMENDED: MANCHESTER METROLINK – STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS TEAM

HIGHLY COMMENDED: SERCO DOCKLANDS – CLOSURES TEAM

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Arup specialists work with clients around the world to deliver effective transport solutions, that include:

- Business case preparation - Operations and network planning - Economic, environmental and social assessments - Engineering appraisal and design - Implementation and procurement advice - Asset Management

www.arup.com

Congratulations to all the 2011 Light Rail Award winners!Especially Centro with the ‘Community Payback Project’, winner of the ‘Innovation of the Year’ award, sponsored by Arup.


8 LIGHT RAIL AWARDS 2011 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

A crowded house for the 2011 Light Rail Awards – the biggest event of its kind ever held in the UK, with nearly 250 distinguished guests in attendance.

The Light Rail Awards Champagne Reception, sponsored by rolling stock manufacturer CAF, saw guests from eight different countries comparing notes and enjoying the networking opportunities.

The LRTA showed support for the Awards en masse, including former LRTA President (now Patron) Geoffrey Claydon and new Chairman Andrew Braddock – also Director General of UKTram.

Although unable to attend on the

evening, Mayor of London Boris Johnson sent a special tribute

to the London Tramlink Recovery

team – watched with interest by UK Transport Minister

Norman Baker.

Former London Rail Managing Director Ian Brown CBE – and keynote speaker at last year’s Light Rail Awards – shares a joke with London Rail’s Chief Operating Officer Howard Smith.

Guests made the most of the uncharacteristically good October weather with the outdoor drinks reception at the Honourable Artillery Company.

The Municipality of Murcia and Tranvía de Murcia travelled over a thousand miles to

collect their Environmental Initiative of the Year trophy, the Mayor commenting: “We

have to get used to a new way of travelling. You can live as well as before – or better.”

The DB Regio Tyne & Wear team celebrated a second award-winning year, taking the coveted Operator of the Year title in 2011. Managing Director Richard McClean (front right) said: “I am proud to return to Tyne and Wear with this award, recognising the great work of all those at DB Regio and the Tyne and Wear working on Metro.”

As one of the most sought after people in the UK at the moment, Department for Transport light rail lead Steve Berry (left) discusses the finer points of the recent Green Light for Light Rail report with TAUT Editor Simon Johnston.

2008 Campaigner of the Year Paul Rowen congratulates Rob Whyte from Alstom Transport – the latter collecting the Innovation of the Year award for the firm’s Appitrack track-laying system.

Respected broadcaster and light rail fan Nicholas Owen took to the

stage for the fifth time, hosting the 2011 Light Rail Awards – always

raising a smile with his erudite and witty introductions.

Roger Harrison from the Tramlink Nottingham consortium and Keolis’ Metro and Light Rail Director Regis Hennion compare experience with current Nottingham Express Transit boss Neil Wood.

Campaigner of the Year Mike Connelly (right) clutches his award and celebratory Champagne proudly as he talks to fellow campaigner Iain MacDonald from the LRTA.

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HIGHLY COMMENDED:CENTRO – GREAT CHARLES STREET BRIDGE

Another category that attracted many entries, was the cov-eted Project of the Year accolade – making it a challenging decision for the judges. However, the two shortlisted for the honours show that major construction projects need not be arduous tasks if they are well-planned, well-organised and efficiently managed by skilled teams.

The first project recognised was the Great Charles Street Bridge that will eventually take Midland Metro trams into Birmingham city centre (UK) – a long-overdue project that connects many thousands to the already successful network.

Although crossing an eight-lane motorway into the heart of the UK’s second-largest city, this scheme was completed without any drama or delay – in fact it was delivered on schedule, and came in almost 10% under-budget.

Paul Griffiths of West Midlands Passenger Transport Ex-ecutive Centro collected the transport authority’s second honour of the evening.

The top honours in the Project of the Year category were bestowed upon the Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) entry – one of three that covered various aspects of the Phase 3 extensions to the UK’s Manchester Metrolink system, all three being worthy of recognition in their own right.

Following its Highly Commended award in this category in 2010, a massive amount has happened in those 12 months. With the opening of the new extension to Media City:UK and the new South Manchester line, many thousands now have access to the rapidly expanding Metrolink network.

On top of this there have been further orders for M5000 trams and a new depot opened to house them. The Old Traf-ford facility has state-of-the-art servicing and washing fa-cilities, as well as ample stabling for the fleet as it expands.

For these reasons, the Phase 3 expansion project was rec-ognised, with TfGM representatives taking to the stage to collect the award from Minister Norman Baker MP.

PROJECT OF THE YEAR

WINNERTRANSPORT FOR GREATER MANCHESTER

AND MPACT-THALES – MANCHESTER METROLINK EXTENSIONS


WINNERMIKE CONNELLY

Following in the footsteps of Broxtowe Borough Council-lor Steve Barber was never going to be an easy task for the Campaigner of the Year, but the 2011 award was given to a man chosen by the judges for his tireless work in promoting light rail in a particularly hostile climate – Edinburgh, UK.

With the world’s eyes keenly focused on a project that has struggled with delays, and disputes, managing the often fractured relationships between stakeholders in front of the media is certainly no easy task.

Mike Connelly, formerly Head of Public Affairs at Edin-burgh Trams, was recognised as a tremendous communica-tor who has done a massive amount to stem the tide of ill-feeling in the city towards the delayed tramway scheme.

Light Rail Awards host Nicholas Owen remarked: “In our industry at the moment, the word Edinburgh is sadly one that sends a sharp tingle down your spine.

“Mike Connelly has taken much of the flak, but remained upbeat and never let his face fall despite repeated hammer-ings from the anti-trammers, local firms, shopkeepers, taxi drivers, and worst of all the local and national media.

“Sadly, Mr Connelly has fallen victim of the latest round of reorganisation, but we sincerely hope that other light rail systems will snap him up now that he can add Campaigner of the Year to his CV.”

Delighted by his award, Mr Connelly told TAUT: “I welcome the Campaigner of the Year Award, but not as an individual. This is a recognition of the communications team recruited four to five years ago on Edinburgh Trams.

“If there is one thing that I have learnt over the last five years it is the fact that we have to get smarter at making the case for light rail, but also developing a message for light rail which wins over more and more hearts and minds.

“When I started at Edinburgh Trams in 2006 I reckon that 90% of the energy within the project was being spent on the 2% of the Edinburgh population who were the people who didn’t wish to see trams. We need to articulate new relation-ships with new people who believe or can be persuaded to believe that light rail is the best option for them.

“If we do this successfully we will start to make a real difference to the social, economic and environmental im-pact on people’s lives, everything that light rail provides.”

Light Rail Transit Association Chairman Andrew Braddock presented the award.

SPONSORED BY

In an exciting year for light rail globally, choosing the Operator of the Year – seen by many as the most prestigious award of the evening – was always going to be a challenging process for the judges. That said, two operators in particular stood out for praise.

The first special mention was given to Veolia Transdev for its operation of the Dublin Luas system. Not only has it opened three line extensions over the past 18 months, the system still operates at near-perfect 99% reliability and customer satisfac-tion. As a model for light rail operations everywhere, the judges commented that the past seven years have shown how light rail can transform even the most modern, progressive capital city.

In choosing the winner, the judges were impressed with how this “new kid on the block” has made such an impact just 16 months into its operating contract with the Tyne & Wear Metro.

Light Rail Awards host Nicholas Owen echoed the com-ments of the judging panel by saying: “Everything takes a bat-tering when you run through tough areas, and once windows get scratched, ticket machines broken into and stations van-dalised, you can very soon lose the plot. What’s the answer? Simply roll your sleeves up and get your back into sorting out the problem.

“Our winner has done just that with extra services, more staff on the ground, cleaner, brighter and more reliable trains, and above all dead-straight honesty. A deserved winner.”

Richard McClean, Managing Director of DB Regio Tyne & Wear, collected the 2011 Operator of the Year title from Steve Reynolds of sponsor Parsons Brinckerhoff.

Mr McClean later told TAUT: “Winning this award is a great honour for everybody at DB Regio Tyne & Wear who work so hard to operate Metro. DBTW’s employees are proving that we can ensure Metro provides a great service to the people of Tyne and Wear.

“We have taken the operation of the network in our stride and made significant improvements to service levels, something which is recognised in the ever-increasing satisfaction levels in the surveys carried out. The last 18 months hasn’t been without its challenges, including during the snowstorms last winter, but we managed to keep Metro in operation, with not a single train being cancelled due to a lack of train drivers.

“It is for this reason among many others that I am proud to return to Tyne and Wear with the Operator of the Year award, recognising the great work of all those at DB Regio and the Tyne and Wear working on Metro.”


WINNER DB REGIO TYNE & WEAR

SPECIAL MENTION: VEOLIA TRANSDEV, DUBLIN

SPONSORED BY


Taking this coveted award for the second year running, Bombardier Transportation again impressed the judges with its commitment to technological innovation and cus-tomer service – no matter where it is across the globe.

With orders in the past year for its trams from as far afield as Melbourne and the Gold Coast in Australia, Brussels in Belgium, Halle, Kassel and Leipzig in Germany, Krakow in Poland, Stockholm in Sweden and Manchester in the UK, Bombardier underlined its market-leading position worldwide.

The judges commented: “With over 100 000 trams and railcars running worldwide, this is a firm that goes from strength to strength in the urban transit industry. Connect them all together and they’d stretch from Crystal Palace to Paris and back – twice.”

Collecting the award on behalf of Bombardier Trans-portation were the firm’s President of Light Rail Vehicles, Germar Wacker, UK Chairman Colin Walton and UK LRV Sales Director Elaine Greenwood.

Mr Wacker told TAUT: “We are proud to have won one of the most highly-prized accolades among the 2011 Light Rail Awards. This award underscores our capability as a provider of light rail solutions and as a reliable partner for transport operators. Our vehicles are already in success-ful revenue service in Manchester, London’s Docklands, Croydon and Nottingham, and we have just successfully launched our Flexity 2 tram in Blackpool.

“We were also particularly impressed with the reason the judges gave for awarding this prize to Bombardier for the second year running: “With over 100,000 trams and railcars running worldwide, this is a firm that goes from strength to strength in the urban transit industry.

“The latest Flexity 2 vehicles for Blackpool are obvi-ously the result of the firm’s extensive experience in this industry and offer an exciting future for the next generation of tramways worldwide”.”

WORLDWIDE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

WINNERBOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION


WORLDWIDE PROJECT OF THE YEAR

SPECIAL MENTION: MISKOLC, HUNGARY – GREEN ARROW PROJECT

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SPONSORED BY

Now in its third year, the Worldwide Project of the Year was the most closely-contested of all the awards with entries com-ing from all four corners of the globe, and including new sys-tems, new lines and technological developments.

Sponsored by Tramways & Urban Transit, Publisher Howard Johnston joined UK Under-Secretary of State for Transport Norman Baker MP on stage to present the honours.

A special mention was made for the ‘Green Arrow’ scheme in Miskolc, Hungary – an ambitious project to revitalise the city’s east-west tramline with the reconstruction of almost 20 miles of track and an order for 30 new vehicles. Leading the way for many Eastern European tramways that have been starved of investment for decades, the judges were impressed with this entry for its scope and meticulous planning.

Whittling the double-figure entries down to just four, three Highly Commended honours were noted, the first being for 2009 Worldwide Project of the Year winner, the Gold Coast Rapid Transit Project in Australia. Since 2009, contracts have been awarded and construction has begun on this 16-station,

HIGHLY COMMENDED:ANGERS TRAMWAY, FRANCE

13km (eight-mile) first line. On schedule for passenger services to start in 2014, it will be Queensland’s first tramway. The award was collected on behalf of future operator Keolis by the firm’s Metro and Light Rail Director, Regis Hennion.

The next prize was noted by judges for its near-perfect imple-mentation of the latest technology in a small city of just 160 000 population. The tramway in Angers, France, is a modest example of a 12km (7.5-mile) system built using surface current collec-tion, grassed areas and attractive vehicles that has already made a big impact on its surroundings. Bernadette Caillard-Humeau, Vice President in charge Transportation and Urban Mobility for the city of Angers collected the award.

The third Highly Commended was given to a US system that goes from strength to strength. Opening 45km (28 miles) of new route in a single day is an impressive feat – and one achieved by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Green line in early 2011.

With much more on the way, the DART network is a standard-bearer for US light rail as it goes through its most intensive de-velopment phase in decades. Ben Gomez, Executive Vice Presi-dent of Administration, collected the award on behalf of DART.

The winner was the Bybanen Bergen Light Rail system in Nor-way with a unanimous vote from the judging panel, who com-

mented: “This fantastic system is a model for light rail develop-ment worldwide. Efficient design and planning saw the first line realised in just two years – on schedule and on budget – and it has already exceeded all ridership expectations and, more impor-tantly, become a landmark for the region.

“If only all light rail schemes could progress this smoothly and show such transformational effects, we’d certainly see more get-ting off the ground. A well-deserved winner.”

Light Rail Awards host Nicholas Owen added: “Countless bar-riers were placed in the way of the visionaries who saw light rail as the best way to unjam the roads in this coastal city.

“First it was politics, then planning, then money, and then there were even arguments about the names of the tram stops. Now the first line is up and running, work has already started on extensions and regeneration and new developments are springing up around the line. This is how to do it.”

Having been a part of the tramway scheme for over 20 years, Thomas J. Potter, Chief Engineer, travelled from Bergen to collect the award. He told TAUT: “It’s had a lot of public opposi-tion and this award is a recognition that the politicians especially were far-sighted. It’s about city development and what you want your city to be.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED:DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT – GREEN LINE, USA

HIGHLY COMMENDED:GOLD COAST RAPID TRANSIT, AUSTRALIA

WINNER BYBANEN BERGEN LIGHT RAIL, NORWAY

Deservedly taking the 2011 Worldwide Operator of the Year title, Bergen’s Stadler LRVs now wear

the Light Rail Awards logo by their doors with pride – following the example set by Nottingham

Express Transit in 2010. Jimmy Schmincke



With no entries and no formal nominations, this is the category where the judges single out an individual, a team or an organisa-tion for their contribution to the light rail industry as a whole.

With a clean sheet, the judges debate long and hard as to the element that has made the most impact in a busy and crowded year of incredible achievement in the light rail world. In the judges’ opinion there was one team this year that covered itself in glory for its efforts when faced with widespread civil unrest in the UK’s capital city – the London Tramlink recovery team.

Light Rail Awards host Nicholas Owen began the tributes: “The week beginning Monday 8 August saw rampaging rioters tearing through the UK’s major cities in an uncontrolled orgy of vandalism and looting.

“London was very badly affected, and the London Tramlink system in Croydon innocently found itself at the very centre of some of the most serious attacks. Quick-thinking staff had to suspend services to protect passengers, staff and equipment as a major department store right next to the track erupted in a vol-cano of flames.

“When the heat died down, it was discovered that 14 trams were stranded on the eastern side of the network, with no means of getting them back to safety at the main depot. Again, clear thinking allowed a quick decision to keep some sort of service running. A makeshift maintenance centre was even cobbled to-gether at a tramstop, and Nottingham Express Transit graciously lent some of their kit. This is teamwork at its very best.”

The judges added: “The efforts of all concerned in Croydon were nothing short of herculean in dealing with the aftermath of the some of the worst rioting seen in the UK in decades.

“Within just 48 hours the overhead lines were back up, the clearly well-organised Tramlink team had re-erected the over-head lines, made safe the damaged masts, cleared the clogged

track, isolated the melted signals and had services back up and running under immensely difficult circumstances. This is a truly remarkable achievement and a worthy winner in this category.”

Although unable to attend, Mayor of London Boris Johnson sent his own message of congratulation: “London Tramlink is the lifeforce which keeps Croydon’s economy healthy and the team did an incredible job to repair the damage caused during the riots.

“Their hard work symbolised the unbelievable determination shown by so many Londoners to get the capital back on track. I was very proud to meet several members of the Tramlink team myself following their achievement and I send each of them my thanks and hearty congratulations.”

Phil Hewitt, Director of London Trams, told TAUT: “The riots in Croydon in August placed a sudden and immense strain on the Tramlink network and the speed with which the infrastruc-ture was restored and services resumed around central Croydon serves to demonstrate the skill and professionalism of our driv-ing and maintenance teams.

“This award is wonderful recognition of the efforts made by, and the remarkable commitment to, the network and to our cus-tomers of the Bombardier, Tram Operations and TfL people who go together to make up the Tramlink team.”

JUDGES’ SPECIAL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

WINNERLONDON TRAMLINK RECOVERY TEAM

“London Tramlink is the lifeforce which keeps Croydon’s economy healthy and the team did an incredible job to repair the damage caused during the riots. I send each of them my thanks and hearty congratulations.” BORIS JOHNSON, MAYOR OF LONDON

A Company of Stadler Rail Group

Stadler Pankow GmbH · Lessingstrasse 102 · D-13158 Berlin, Germany · Phone +49 (0)30 91 91-16 16 · Fax +49 (0)30 91 91-21 50 · [email protected]

www.stadlerrail.com

on TRACK!

Puttingthe future

VARIOBAHN and TANGO: Light rail vehicles produced by Stadler for city of the future.

STA_1128_005_Anz_LightRail_engl_A4_rz.indd 1 22.09.11 11:38

Reproduced with permission of Tramways & Urban Transit

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