Station ambassadors

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I'm posting this - from the Darlington and Stockton times - in "Who's who on Western Railways" because (discussion point) it might be a really good thing to do at certain stations in our own area.   Discuss 

RAIL operator Grand Central says it wants to add more ^station ambassadors^ to its route following feedback from the general public.

The ambassadors provide help and advice to travellers at smaller railway stations which are frequently unstaffed, particularly at weekends.

The firm said there was a ^keen appetite^ for these from the public at locations including Thirsk, in North Yorkshire, and Mirfield, in West Yorkshire. They already operate on Sundays at Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, and Hartlepool.

It also said it was planning to meet with tourism representatives in Thirsk in order to build on any opportunities that may arise from closer working between the two groups.

Grand Central, which is part of the Arriva group, said feedback from roadshows it held earlier this year would help shape its plans, which include ^7.8m worth of improvements next year and beyond.

[ChrisB]

They already exist as purple ambassador at Paddington, Bristol (TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) & Parkway) and Gloucester/Cheltenham - anywhere else?

Guess GC^» (Great Central Railway - link to heritage line) have got the idea from the GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about)?

[grahame]

They already exist as purple ambassador at Paddington, Bristol (TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) & Parkway) and Gloucester/Cheltenham - anywhere else?

Guess GC^» (Great Central Railway - link to heritage line) have got the idea from the GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about)?

The Grand Central approach struck me as more community linked, with the tourism industry in the area, rather than being employed by the rail industry to close to that, but I guess I don't know much about the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) team as I've not stopped / chatted with them.

My thought was rather, looking at the GC model where "smaller railway stations which are frequently unstaffed" rather than the big'uns - extending the "Friends of Henley Station" for weekend days when tourists are in and out of the town, and people with tourism as well as rail knowledge.  I suspect that's different to the Paddington model, unless I've misunderstood that and you can ask (and expect a reasonable answer) about the best way to get to the London Eye.

[bobm]

They already exist as purple ambassador at Paddington, Bristol (TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context) & Parkway) and Gloucester/Cheltenham - anywhere else?

Bath Spa

[IndustryInsider]

Oxford, Reading and Maidenhead, too.

[JayMac]

And FGWs^▸ (First Great Western) Ribena Girls and Boys have popped up in other locations when disruption has caused issues.

[Alan Pettitt]

It was interesting how there were 3 Ambassadors to take photos of me collecting my free ice cream outside Temple Meads during the air conditioning failures this year but when there is a genuine transport problem they all seem to evaporate (presumably in the heat). I think the current cold weather might be a good time to ensure that all the air conditioning is ready just in case it just happens that it gets rather warm again in 2015 and fgw still haven't managed to add a few extra coaches. Anyway, I wish all forum members a very happy new year!