Southend Airport Railway Station Ticket Office Clerk, Joe Carpenter, Named as a Finalist in the Forthcoming RailStaff Awards 2011

Stobart Rail employee, Joe Carpenter, from Canvey Island, Essex – a ticket clerk at Stobart Group’s London Southend Airport railway station – has been nominated as Rail Newcomer of the Year 2011 at the RailStaff Awards, held at the ICC in Birmingham on 29 October.

Joe, 24, nominated for Rail Newcomer of the Year Award.

Operational since July this year, the all-new Southend Airport railway station is on the Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street line, offering up to eight services to London per hour and taking passengers from the airport into the City in just 53 minutes, or to Stratford – venue for the Olympics in 2012 – in 44 minutes.

Uniquely, the railway station was constructed and is operated by airport owners Stobart Group’s rail division, Stobart Rail, making all airport and railway station staff at London Southend, Stobart employees – a company synonymous with excellent customer service, unrivalled efficiency, friendliness and smart operations.

Joe Carpenter is very conscious of the Stobart brand’s characteristics, and believes this may have earned him his place at the RailStaff Awards finals this year. He said: “The railway station is situated in the heart of the airport, fewer than 100 paces from the new terminal currently under construction and is an integral part of the development – which is all about efficiency and ease of use for passengers. The attitude of us employees adds to this feeling of a friendly and efficient airport, and I think the customers appreciate it – which is why I come to work every day with a smile and a cheerful outlook.”

He added: “I know our attitude is also important to the Stobart Group, as with their famous Eddie Stobart truck drivers. I have met Stobart bosses Andrew Tinkler and William Stobart, who sometimes use the station, and I hope to make them proud at the awards in Birmingham later this month.”

Voting for the RailStaff Awards finalists has now closed, and results will be announced at a ceremony in Birmingham on Saturday 29 October 2011.

London Southend Airport managing director, Alastair Welch, said: “Everyone at the airport wishes Joe all the very best at the RailStaff Awards. He is a strong member of a great station team and deserves recognition as an excellent Rail Newcomer.”