Newbridge’s Brian Blake wins big at Iarnród Éireann Customer Experience awards

Rail workers from Newbridge and Hazelhatch & Celbridge Stations have won big at this year’s Iarnród Éireann Customer Experience awards. The awards, now in the second year, took place at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin recently. The event recognises excellence in customer experience in all aspects of service that is provided to rail customers. Workers were nominated by their peers and this year also featured a People’s Choice Award, where nominations came from customers.

The disability and accessibility category is one of the most important categories at the Customer Experience Award. Assisting those with additional needs is central to the company’s customer experience strategy.  Brian Blake from Newbridge Station was the overall winner in this category.

Brian has over the years built a very positive working relationship with all customers who travel through Newbridge Station. Brian has a special interest in assisting mobility impaired customers and those with additional needs. An example of Brian’s commitment was illustrated in his nomination. “A customer, who is visually impaired travels regularly to and from Newbridge. Brian will always assist this customer when they alight from services at the station and escort the customer to their home which is situated on the other side of Station Road. Brian always has a smile and a kind word for all of the customers who travel on our services and is a credit to Iarnród Éireann."

Patricia Bermingham from Hazelhatch and Celbridge Station was high commended in the in station customer excellence category, Her nomination featured high praise. “Trish is an absolute one of a kind. The ‘Queen of Hazelhatch’ she welcomes passengers through like they are visiting her home. The relationship she has built up with her customers is something very special and she is on first names terms with many. Trish always has a smile on her face and has Hazelhatch impeccably presented. Her window displays are something to behold and create huge excitement for the kids passing through.  Quite simply Hazelhatch wouldn’t be Hazelhatch without Trish.” Said her nominator.

Speaking at the event. CEO of Iarnród Éireann, Jim Meade said: “One of Iarnród Éireann’s core values is, Customers at the Heart of our Business. All nominees and winners here today truly espouse that value and you should be very proud of the excellent way you serve our customers”