Press release -
Bedford College students take to Thameslink
A group of Bedford College students with learning difficulties took part in a 'Try a Train' event from Bedford to London last week, hosted by Govia Thameslink Railway’s Bedford Station Manager Joe Healy and his team.
After talking to ticket office, gateline and platform staff at Bedford, the 11 students, with three members of College staff, set off on Thameslink for a day out in London.
On the journey to Blackfriars station, Joe chatted to the students about rail travel and careers in the railway industry. On arrival, station staff helped them familiarise further with aspects of rail travel such as passenger safety features and information displays.
From Blackfriars, the group took a walk along the South Bank and then visited the House of Commons where they had a guided tour and met their MP.
Louise Smith, Bedford College’s Foundation Manager, said: “The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and came away with a positive attitude towards train travel.”
Joe Healy said: “The main point of the day was to help people with learning difficulties overcome their fears of train travel, and to help them be more independent. We wanted it to be both fun and informative, and our staff really enjoy interacting with the group and seeing their confidence grow.”
One of the students summed up the success of the day by saying: “I would like to travel by train on my own some time.”
Demand is high for GTR’s Try a Train events; the company runs a dozen each year.
GTR’s Accessibility Manager Antony Merlyn said: "The Try a Train initiative provides a valuable experience for all people with accessibility needs. It helps build confidence in using public transport independently. It also helps us to fully understand the wide range of needs our passengers may have, so that we can provide the best accessibility support at stations and on the trains."
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Notes to editors
For more information email press.office@gtrailway.com or call
Southern and Gatwick Express press office: 0203 750 2030
Thameslink and Great Northern press office: 0203 750 2031
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Govia Thameslink Railway
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) operates Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services. GTR is the largest rail franchise in the UK in terms of passenger numbers, trains, revenue and staff. The operator carries about 326 million passenger journeys per year, and employs around 6,500 people. Its aim is to improve services across all four networks.
Ticket revenue is passed to the government, which pays GTR a fee to operate the franchise. The fee is adjusted according to how well the train service is performing.
Southern has the fastest passenger growth in the UK with numbers into London having doubled in 12 years - compared with the industry as a whole doubling over the past 20 years. Passenger numbers on GTR's other routes have also seen huge growth - at King's Cross they have increased among all operators combined by 70% in 14 years.
GTR has introduced more new trains in the past year than all other franchises put together, with 500 new carriages so far.
GTR's transformative RailPlan 20/20 modernisation programme incorporates the £7bn Thameslink Programme which will bring hundreds more daily services, increasing the number of trains though the central London core from up to 15 to 24 trains per hour. Network Rail has also launched a £300m programme to improve resilience across the GTR network.
Under RailPlan 20/20, GTR is modernising how it works, with new technology in use at our stations and on our trains, smartcard ticketing and a new, flexible on-board role on many Southern services. This ensures fewer cancellations, and with more staff on board our trains now than ever before, passengers are enjoying a much better level of on-board customer service.
The GTR investment programme for stations includes funding for more CCTV, toilet refurbishments, new retail facilities, help points and car park improvements – as well as plans for increased motorcycle storage and improved transport integration.
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