Record awards haul for TransPennine Express

The ninth annual Rail Business Awards took place in London last week and the show was stolen by TransPennine Express, which won four prizes, including the Manager of the Year title for its managing director

TransPennine Express managing director Vernon Barker (left) shows transport secretary Douglas Alexander one of the company’s new Class185 trains. Barker was named Rail Business Manager of the Year at last week’s Rail Business Awards 2006 in LondonThe £250m new Class 185 fleet introduced by TransPennine Express last year was delivered on time and on budget

TransPennine Express managing director Vernon Barker (left) shows transport secretary Douglas Alexander one of the company’s new Class185 trains. Barker was named Rail Business Manager of the Year at last week’s Rail Business Awards 2006 in LondonThe £250m new Class 185 fleet introduced by TransPennine Express last year was delivered on time and on budget

TransPennine Express managing director Vernon Barker (left) shows transport secretary Douglas Alexander one of the company’s new Class185 trains. Barker was named Rail Business Manager of the Year at last week’s Rail Business Awards 2006 in London

TransPennine Express managing director Vernon Barker (left) shows transport secretary Douglas Alexander one of the company’s new Class185 trains. Barker was named Rail Business Manager of the Year at last week’s Rail Business Awards 2006 in London

It’s not often that a train company managing director is allowed to make plea to a government minister for extra investment while basking in glory in front of an audience of 800 fellow rail professionals. It happened more than once in one night for Vernon Barker, managing director of First TransPennine Express at the HSBC Rail-sponsored 2006 Rail Business Awards in London last week.

It was TransPennine’s night, however, as the north of England intercity operator walked away with...