Whether dispatching trains, assisting customers, or responding to emergencies, the nation’s station staff play a vital role in ensuring a positive travel experience. The Station Staff Team or Person Award recognises the individuals and teams whose professionalism, dedication, and care make a lasting impression and keep passengers picking rail as a means of travel.
GWR’s Emma-Jane Kennedy was astonished to win the award last year. As dispatch supervisor at Weston-super-Mare, Emma exemplified dedication and compassion. Responsible for the safe and efficient running of the station, she was nominated for consistently ensuring punctual dispatch, compliance, and operational excellence.
Beyond her duties, Emma supports colleagues, enhances customer experience, and leads community initiatives such as the Weston-super-Mare station carnival. A qualified first aider and mental health first aider, she also fosters wellbeing and teamwork across the station.
“I’m in shock,” said Emma on accepting the Award. “I was up against so many great people, that just to be a finalist was fabulous. I was already a winner in my own heart, but this is just amazing. I’d love to thank the lady who nominated me, I owe it all to her. She recognised the work I do, and I’m so grateful for that.”
Valued support
The Station Staff Team or Person Award was sponsored in 2025 by the Transport Benevolent Fund CIO (TBF), and it returns to support the award once again.
Founded in 1923 by the predecessors of Transport for London (TfL), TBF provides relief from hardship and distress among those who work in (or are retired from) the public transport industry and its related services. TBF helps out when things aren’t going so well, offering a wide range of benefits including health, welfare, and financial support, including a comprehensive range of complementary therapies, grants towards priority arrears, legal advice, scans and tests, medical equipment, convalescence and bereavement grants to its members and their dependants.
The Fund is open to anyone engaged in the public transport industry in Great Britain; membership costs £1.25 a week, covering the member, their live-in partner and dependent children. Each family member is considered separately, and benefits paid are not cumulative for the whole family.
“TBF helps its members and their dependants in times of need, and the Station Staff Award is our way of saying thank you to those who help customers on a daily basis,” says TBF CEO John Sheehy.
“As well as carrying out their regular duties, without warning, they can be dealing with a traumatic event and, in some cases, help save someone’s life. They are a customer’s first point of contact and play a vital role in making the customer experience a safe and pleasant one.”
Rail Media thanks TBF for its continued support of this award, which remains a fitting tribute to the dedication and professionalism of the rail industry’s frontline teams.
TBF is a registered charity in England and Wales, 1160901 and Scotland, SC047016.
