Translink bus stations lift Spirit awards for services

Translink bus stations lift Spirit awards for services

18 December 2024

TWO local bus stations secured top accolades in this year’s Translink’s Spirit awards for services to people and the planet.

Downpatrick and Newcastle stations were just the ticket for passengers as they secured platinum and gold accolades respectively in the Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful awards.

A total of 36 Translink bus and rail facilities took part with the aim of promoting a safe and pleasant environment for both customers and employees, whilst ensuring Translink upholds its environmental-responsibility focus.

In total, 14 of the participating facilities achieved platinum status – the highest available – with 17 gold, four silver and one bronze.

The initiative supports Translink staff in developing a culture of continuous improvement, giving public recognition to staff who have gone above and beyond in creating a more attractive environment for passengers and colleagues. 

Each facility is judged across a set of key criteria examining key areas including resource efficiency, energy and carbon, biodiversity, health and wellbeing activities, stakeholder, employee, and community engagement as well as employee culture, behaviour and leadership.  

In addition, each facility which participates in the Spirit Awards has an appointed Spirit Ambassador who works hard to deliver initiatives and projects throughout the year relating to safety culture, and biodiversity, health and wellbeing, and community engagement.

Newcastle bus station has achieved its Gold spirit award status with the assessment highlighting a range of great initiatives and projects happening across the station.

The AMGEN Irish Golf Tournament took place in Newcastle in September and to support people getting there, the Newcastle team, in conjunction with colleagues from across Translink, helped deliver the highly commended park and ride shuttle service. 

The service required co-operation from employees at all grades at the Newcastle station and colleagues from various other sectors across the organisation.

Newcastle station service delivery manager, Ciaran McHugh, said the aid of delivery in the tournament from staff displayed a brilliant example of the Translink Spirit in action.”

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful interim chief executive, Dr Sue Christie, said the annual awards are a testament to the value Translink places on reducing its environmental impact.

She said they are also a consideration of health and wellbeing, alongside community engagement. 

“Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful has always advocated the need for behaviour change and encouraging people to use public transport is a key part of fighting the climate emergency,” she said.

“It is heartening to see so many sites achieving gold and platinum awards this year and we celebrate the hard work of the staff at these sites whose innovation and teamwork are at the core of achieving and maintaining these high standards.”