[Article] Killarney voted best train station

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...reaking59.html

Killarney voted best train station

The train station in the tourist town of Killarney, Co Kerry, has been voted the best train station in Ireland by rail customers.

Iarnród Éireann today announced the results of its 15th annual best station awards at its engineering works in Inchicore, Dublin.

Killarney station, which the rail company said plays a “key role” in the life of the tourist town, was the first overall winner to be chosen directly by customers. Nearly 2,000 customers participated in the ballot by text and on the website.

Each of the country’s 140 stations was rated.

Noel Meaney, station manager for Killarney and Tralee, collected the award along with colleagues Padraig O’Donoghue and Maurice Moynihan.

The company said the award for Killarney was also “a fitting tribute to the career of recently retired station manager Michael Leahy, who also attended. Mr Leahy was in charge at the station during the public voting period.

The company said the station scored highly in the categories of customer information, staff helpfulness, station appearance and staff appearance.

A crystal locomotive trophy presented to the winning team will be displayed at Killarney station throughout this year. Killarney was also voted best Munster station, with Cork and Charleville highly commended in the category.

Claremorris was voted best Connacht station, with Athenry and Sligo highly commended.

In Leinster, Kilkenny was voted best station, and Arklow and Connolly were highly commended. Sutton station in north Dublin was voted best Dart station. Killester and Killiney were highly commended in that category.

Hazelhatch, Co Kildare, was voted the best commuter station, ending a 12-year stint at the top by Skerries. Hazelhatch also recently won a UK and Ireland heritage award for the incorporation of the historic station building into customer service facilities at the new expanded station.

Docklands station and Skerries were highly commended in the commuter category.

Mallow station took the crystal locomotive trophy for best customer service, while Birdhill won in the community involvement category.

Iarnród Éireann chief executive Dick Fearn said: “Winning the title of best station in Ireland has always been a major achievement for our stations.

“However, to gain that endorsement from our customers, who rightly expect ever-improving standards of customer care and station appearance, is an even higher honour, and we congratulate Killarney for winning this year.”

The company said it hoped to expand the voting for future awards. “By encouraging keen competition between stations, we can raise the standards of customer care at all stations for the benefit of everyone who travels with us,” a spokesman said.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=655

Iarnrod Eireann's Best Stations Awards - Killarney is Ireland's Best Station by Corporate Communications

KILLARNEY IS IRELAND’S BEST STATION!

Tourist town comes out tops as winners chosen directly by customers for first time

Major awards also for Claremorris, Sutton, Kilkenny, Hazelhatch and Mallow

Community involvement award for Birdhill

Killarney has been named Overall Best Train Station in Ireland for 2010, at the 15th annual Iarnród Éireann Best Station Awards, which took place today at Iarnród Éireann’s Inchicore Engineering Works.

The station, which plays a key role in the life of the Co Kerry tourist town, became the first overall winner to be chosen directly by customers. This year’s Best Station Awards for the first time saw customers rating the country’s 140 stations by text and website. Dick Fearn, Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann said “winning the title of Best Station in Ireland has always been a major achievement for our stations. However, to gain that endorsement from our customers, who rightly expect ever-improving standards of customer care and station appearance, is an even higher honour, and we congratulate Killarney for winning this year.”

It was a proud Station Manager for Killarney and Tralee, Noel Meaney, who collected the award on behalf of Killarney, along with colleagues Padraig O'Donoghue & Maurice Moynihan. It was also a fitting tribute to the career of recently retired Station Manager Killarney Michael Leahy, who also joined with his former colleagues to collect the award. Michael, who retired in December, was at the helm in Killarney during the public voting period. An instantly recognisable face to the thousands who pass through the station week in week out, Michael and his team received high scores across the categories of:

- Customer information
- Staff helpfulness
- Station appearance
- Staff appearance

The magnificent crystal locomotive trophy was presented to Noel, Michael and their team, which will adorn Killarney Station throughout 2010.


Regional winners

Killarney also collected the title of Best Munster Station, beating off competition from Cork and Charleville Stations.

In Connacht, Claremorris emerged victorious, with Station Manager Dolores Keaveney leading the team to collect the award. Athenry and Sligo Stations were highly commended in the West.

Leinster saw Kilkenny emulate their hurling dominance, courtesy of Station Manager John Delaney and team. Arklow and Connolly Stations were highly commended by customers.

The Best DART station for 2010 was Sutton Station, beating Killiney and Killester. Donal Burton and Stephen Donnelly collected the award for Sutton.

Hazelhatch, recent winner of a UK and Ireland Heritage Award for the incorporation of the historic station building into customer facilities at the new expanded station, was named Best Commuter Station, ending the incredible 12-year dominance of highly commended Skerries Station, and also pipping Docklands Station to the award. Gerry Dalton collected the award for Hazelhatch.


Special awards

In addition to regional winners, two special awards were presented at today’s ceremony.

Mallow collected the special crystal steam locomotive trophy for Best Customer Service. As a key interchange between the Cork and Kerry lines, a special staff effort is required at Mallow to ensure customer care of the highest standards. Customers recognised this in the text and web voting, giving top marks to Mallow for customer service. Station Manager Pat O’Sullivan received the award for his team in Mallow.

Birdhill Station on the Limerick-Ballybrophy line collected this year’s Community Involvement Award, for the strong partnership that exists between station staff and the local community in ensuring the Co Tipperary town’s station is kept in pristine condition year-round. Nicholas Moroney, Station Manager for Thurles and Birdhill, along with station staff John Fahy and Michael Ryan, and community representatives received the award.

Joining in the celebrations were champion jockey Johnny Murtagh, a guest speaker at the event, and a man who knows a thing or two about the highest standards needed.

A spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann said “we are delighted with the success of inviting our customers to rate stations for these awards. Almost 2,000 customers participated, and we will look to expand this still further for future awards. By encouraging keen competition between stations, we can raise the standards of customer care at all stations for the benefit of everyone who travels with us.”


ROLL OF HONOUR

Overall Best Station – Killarney

Best Munster Station – Killarney
Highly Commended – Cork & Charleville

Best Connacht Station – Claremorris
Highly Commended – Athenry & Sligo

Best Leinster Station – Kilkenny
Highly Commended – Arklow & Connolly

Best DART Station – Sutton
Highly Commended – Killester & Killiney

Best Commuter Station – Hazelhatch
Highly Commended – Skerries & Docklands

Best Customer Service – Mallow
Community Involvement – Birdhill

[ThomasJ]

interesting that is closed for most of the days gets commended. Although it was a well desgned station and looks well.

Heres hoping we see much more use of it when the pace line opens soon.