Brighton and Hove’s main train operator has picked up two top awards.
Southern picked up the awards at the Community Rail Awards run by ACoRP (the Association of Community Rail Partnerships).
It won the Passengers Matter Award for its Priority Seat Card.
The card is a first for the rail industry.
It is intended to give passengers with hidden disabilities or with a greater need to sit down the confidence to ask fellow passengers to give up a priority seat.
Simon Cullen won the Outstanding Railway Staff Award for his work on Southern’s East Coastway route.
He was station manager for the area responsible for, among others, London Road, Moulsecoomb and Falmer stations.
Southern’s managing director Chris Burchell said: “I am delighted.
“The Priority Seat Card has made a positive difference to hundreds of our passengers and I know that the rest of the rail industry is looking at how they can adopt the concept.
“I’m also very proud of all of our nominees, all of whom have contributed significantly to our work with our local communities.”
The Community Rail Awards highlight unsung heroes and heroines of the community rail world giving reward and recognition to their hard work and dedication.
The emphasis of the awards is on rewarding excellence and promoting best practice in community rail development, recognising ordinary people doing extraordinary things on behalf of the railway and the community.
