TRAINS operator TransPennine Express has won an award for training staff to use new ticketing equipment.
The company, which runs services through Huddersfield, was a winner in the North West National Training Awards 2006.
TransPennine Express, which operates services between the major cities of northern England, trained two teams of staff to train colleagues in using new ticketing technology.
In just five months, 564 staff were trained to use two new chip and PIN compatible ticketing systems for station booking offices and on board trains.
To complete the £600,000 switchover, the company had to have old computer systems decommissioned, install new terminals in 26 booking offices at manned stations and manage the introduction of new hand-held ticket issuing equipment to 264 on-train conductors.
Using the new systems, booking office staff can check seat availability, provide journey planning information and advice, make a reservation and sell tickets.
On trains, conductors can issue tickets to and from any station using the on-train system without the need for a cumbersome fares manual or timetables.
The new systems save the company more than £200,000 a year in maintenance costs.
The National Training Awards are managed by UK Skills and the Department for Education and Skills.
TransPennine Express is operated by First Group and French group Keolis SA. Its destinations from Huddersfield include Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Manchester and Liverpool.
