The roll out of Greater Anglia’s new trains is continuing in 2022, with the first one to enter passenger service this year going into operation on the Southend Victoria – London line, as the train operator continues the programme to replace its entire fleet with brand new trains, giving further improvements in accessibility. The introduction of the latest UK-built electric commuter train brings the total number of new trains in the Greater Anglia fleet to 103. New trains are now running on every route on the Greater Anglia network apart from between Ely and Kings Lynn, where they will be introduced later this year. The new trains are longer with more seats, plug and USB sockets at every seat, free fast wifi and climate controlled air conditioning. They also have improved accessibility features on every train, such as accessible toilets, wheelchair areas, passenger information systems, call for aid buttons and priority seating – these seats are available to anyone but those who can stand are encouraged to offer them to others around them who may have a non-visible impairment, be pregnant or less able to stand. The arrival of more new trains means that more of the train operator’s old trains have been retired and that, as a result, Greater Anglia’s entire fleet now meets modern accessibility standards. New trains with low floors and retractable steps which bridge the gap between the train and platform run on the majority of Greater Anglia’s regional, intercity, and Stansted Express services. Greater Anglia’s other new trains, which have two wheelchair spaces and one accessible toilet per five carriage train, so four wheelchair spaces and two accessible toilets when running as ten carriages, operate on routes in Essex and on West Anglia services. Martin Beable, Greater Anglia’s Engineering Director, said, “With the removal of old trains from service, and more brand-new trains entering service regularly, our transformation of the railway in East Anglia has reached another positive milestone. “This will make it much easier for people to travel with confidence on our network in future.”
Rail industry joins charity to encourage rail users, including key workers and staff to have a cuppa and a catch up with those they care about as the charity’s annual campaign launches
Greater Anglia station staff join Norwich, Ely and Cambridge volunteers on Monday 17 January providing tea bags for Brew Monday
In a bid to power through the cold winter months, Greater Anglia has joined Samaritans to encourage rail users, including key workers and rail staff to share a cuppa and a catch up with someone they care about for Brew Monday on 17 January. Whilst the third Monday in January is sometimes referred to as ‘the most difficult day of the year’, the charity is highlighting that there’s no such thing as ‘Blue Monday’ as people can feel a range of emotions any day of the year. Although winter is thought to be one of the harder seasons with dark days and frosty nights, Samaritans volunteers hear similar concerns all year round from those that contact the charity. The main concerns include mental health and illness (46 per cent), family (34 per cent) and loneliness (28 per cent)*. To ensure nobody struggles alone, on Brew Monday or any other day, Samaritans and Greater Anglia are reminding everyone to check in on friends, family or colleagues. It doesn’t need to be a Monday or a cup of tea, it’s about connecting and really listening to each other. On Monday 17 January, Greater Anglia staff will be joining Samaritans volunteers at Cambridge, Cambridge North and Ely stations to hand out teabags and talk to passengers about the importance of reaching out and talking. Samaritans volunteers will be at the stations between 7am-9am and again between 5pm-7pm. Volunteers from Norwich Samaritans will be at Norwich station between 2pm-6.30pm. Greater Anglia staff are also invited to take part in a virtual event with Norwich Samaritans to find out more about the charity and learn some important listening tips. Matt Wakefield, Greater Anglia Head of Safety, Security and Sustainability, said: “We’re really proud to be supporting Samaritans’ Brew Monday campaign at Norwich, Cambridge, Cambridge North and Ely stations and spreading this important message to our passengers. Samaritans has worked in partnership with the wider rail industry for more than 10 years encouraging the public and our staff to recognise the power of human connection and start a conversation which could save a life.” Julie Bentley, Samaritans’ CEO said: “We’re so grateful to the rail industry for their support of Brew Monday again this year. Throughout the various lockdowns and restrictions, the pandemic has shown us that staying connected with others has been a vital part of getting people through difficult times. We know the impact talking and listening can have, and a cup of tea and a chat won’t solve everything, but it can be a start. You don’t have to have all the answers or solutions, you just need to listen and start a conversation which could just be the support that someone needs.” The Brew Monday support comes as part of the rail industry’s suicide prevention programme and partnership with Network Rail. Samaritans has worked in partnership with the rail industry and British Transport Police to reduce suicides on the railway for over 10 years, having trained over 24,000 rail and BTP staff to look out for passengers and make conversation if they feel someone might be vulnerable. Find out more at samaritans.org/brewmonday or join the conversation on social media using #BrewMonday and why not make a donation while you’re there, you could help save a life.
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Greater Anglia is making further temporary changes to its weekday timetable from Monday 10 January, in response to fewer passengers travelling. The company is going to replace the current temporary weekday timetable which was implemented just before Christmas with a Sunday-style timetable on most routes – but with earlier first trains mostly consistent with a normal weekday timetable and more trains at peak times. The busiest services will be operated with eight- or ten-carriage trains. No changes will be made to regional route service frequency apart from removing four additional peak services on the Norwich to Great Yarmouth route, meaning an hourly service on most routes or two-hourly on the Ipswich to Peterborough route, as normal. The Norwich to London Liverpool Street intercity service, which operates with 12 carriage trains, will become hourly. The weekend timetable will remain unchanged. Passenger numbers at Greater Anglia have fallen again in recent weeks – and are currently at 40-50 per cent of pre pandemic levels, having increased to around 65–70 per cent in the autumn. Peak-time passenger numbers are currently around 30 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.” They fell after the Government advised people in December to work from home whenever possible – which remains current guidance until at least the end of January – and as fewer people have been travelling, given the recent significant increases in coronavirus cases across the region. However, the new timetable allows for some growth in passenger numbers, with about 74 per cent of pre-pandemic services continuing to run. Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “The pandemic has changed our railway over the past 21 months. Working patterns have altered, so we currently have fewer commuters and business travellers and we are now entirely funded by the Government – and ultimately taxpayers. “We are accountable to our customers and to taxpayers. We want to provide a reliable and punctual service for our customers, which also represents the best possible value to taxpayers. “We’ve been closely monitoring and reviewing our passenger numbers and have designed a timetable which more accurately represents the level of customers who are using the trains. “We’ll continue to monitor passenger numbers and make adjustments if necessary, by either increasing the length of trains or adding extra services. “We are determined to continue running a reliable and punctual service for all our customers, as we have done throughout the pandemic.” Customers are reminded to check before they travel using the Greater Anglia website or app, which will include revised train times. Greater Anglia has a range of measures in place to keep people safe while travelling including good ventilation with either air conditioning which sucks in fresh air every six to nine minutes or opening windows, as well as doors which open at stations. The company is continuing with enhanced cleaning and sanitisation paying particular attention to high touch areas such as push buttons and grab handles. Anyone who wants to travel on a less busy train can check which trains have fewest passengers using the less busy trains tool on the Greater Anglia website. The company is thanking the high number of customers who are wearing face coverings on trains and stations, which is once again mandatory. Greater Anglia will continue to monitor the situation and adjust the timetable as necessary.
Happy New Year and a big welcome to our new specialist Diversity and Inclusion associates, Kate and James. They will both be partnering businesses in their Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging agendas. Want to hear more? Give us a call on 01603 904 011 or have a read of our case studies: www.ignitepeoplesolutions.co.uk/
There are many ways that you can become a greener driver. Even small changes such as removing a roof rack can improve your fuel consumption, therefore reducing your impact on the environment. Here are ten top tips to help you reach your goal in reducing your carbon footprint in 2021. As people are looking to tackle climate change, it is understandable why many people are looking to improve their driving habits. The UK government has set out a plan to ban the sale of new cars and vans that are wholly powered by petrol and diesel by 2030. This does not mean that you have to make the switch to a full electric vehicle straight away. Small changes such as saving fuel and maintaining your car can not only help you protect the environment, but can also save you money in the long term. 1. Checking your tyre pressure Running your car with under-inflated tyres means that your car uses more fuel to turn its wheels. This leads to higher fuel consumption, higher emissions and means to you having to fill up more often. The best way to address this is by finding the optimum tyre pressure for your car. You can check this either by looking in the log book of your car, finding the sticker at the bottom of the driver’s side door, or checking online. Please be aware that you may have to factor in other elements that can affect your car, such as passengers and additional load in your vehicle. 2. Driving at a constant speed Staying to the speed limit on the roads can help you save money at the pumps. Did you know that driving at 80mph can increase your fuel consumption by up to 25% than cruising at 70mph. Heavy braking and bursts of acceleration will see your car burn more fuel than cruising at a constant speed, which means that planning ahead and anticipating what is coming ahead is vital if you are looking to reduce fuel consumption. 3. Turn off your engine Surprisingly your car produces most pollution when it is running idle or at slow speeds under 15mph. Turning off your engine whilst sitting idle in your car is a simple solution for making your driving habits more economical. 4. Reduce unnecessary weight in your vehicle Leaving your golf clubs in the garage can help reduce your fuel consumption. Did you know that a medium sized car’s fuel consumption will increase by 1% for every 25kg of additional weight that it is carrying, therefore it is essential to only carry the essentials if you are looking to become a greener driver. 5. Remove roof or bike racks As mentioned above, additional weight can have a negative impact on fuel consumption. But have you considered what is on the outside of your car? Roof and bike racks can be helpful tools for those who need them, but most they just add weight to your vehicle. However it is not just weight, they can also increase the aerodynamic drag of your vehicle. By extra items on the outside of your car can reduce fuel consumption by around 20% when driving at motorway speeds. You can also increase your wind drag by closing windows, especially when driving at higher speeds on dual carriageways and motorways. 6. Reduce your use of air conditioning Although air conditioning is sometimes an essential luxury for comfort, it can increase your fuel consumption by up to 20%. Using the re-circulation option on your air conditioning can help reduce this. Other options to reduce the need for air conditioning while parked are to find shaded areas, or use a windscreen cover. Driving with your windows open is recommended, but only at slower speeds up to 40mph. As outlined above, it is actual more fuel efficient to use your air conditioning at full power than having your windows open when driving at motorway speeds. 7. Plan ahead and combine trips Instead of making multiple trips throughout the day. Instead of making multiple trips to the supermarket, school and gym and back why not plan ahead and combine them all into one journey. Planning your journey for optimum fuel consumption by avoiding areas with heavy traffic, roadworks and traffic lights with the help of navigation tools and apps can help you have a greener journey. 8. Consider car sharing Sharing a journey with someone else can help you reduce your carbon footprint. By picking up friends and colleagues, you are essentially taking another car off the road, and even share fuel costs meaning that you can save money. 9. Maintain your car Keeping your car well maintained is not only good for the safety of you and your passengers, but can also improve the efficiency of your car. By having your car frequently serviced with oil checks and new air filters, it will help your cars performance. As mentioned above, finding the optimum tyre pressure for your car can also improve your fuel consumption. 10. Making the switch to an electric car With the UK government setting out plans to ban the sale of new cars and vans that are wholly powered by petrol and diesel by 2030, and the advancements in electric car technology, have you considering about switching to an electric car? Electric cars are not only significantly cheaper than petrol and diesel cars, but are also often cheaper to run without sacrificing the comfort and performance of a fuel based vehicle. With more and more electric vehicle charging points popping up around the country in places such as supermarket car parks, and electric car only charging stations, it is easier to keep your new electric car running. Of course you can cut out the need to charge when out and about as you can also recharge your electric vehicle at home.
Plans to improve bus journey times through the Kett’s Hill roundabout area have been put forward in a public consultation launching today (Thursday 6 January). The aim of the scheme is to improve bus links by making journeys quicker and more reliable for bus passengers and to reduce carbon emissions by encouraging greater use of public transport, walking and cycling. The main change involves the introduction of an 80m bus and cycle lane down Kett’s Hill on the approach to the roundabout, along with measures to provide new parking and better connections for pedestrians to access local businesses. The predicted bus journey time saving through the introduction of the bus lane is 80 seconds at peak times and, along with other projects in the Transforming Cities Fund programme, mean that First bus has committed to increasing the frequency of this route to offer up to 10 buses per hour if the savings can be realised. Cllr Martin Wilby, Chair of the Transport for Norwich joint committee and Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said: “This project would be a significant addition to bus journey time savings we’ve been making across the network through our investment from the DfT, with the ultimate goal of increasing use of sustainable transport and improving air quality in Norwich. We also understand there is a balance to strike with the other ways in which people use an area, in particular for those visiting local businesses. With this in mind, the proposals also address the need for parking while improving direct links for those on foot. “We’d like to hear from anyone who uses the bus services, visits or lives in this area to help shape the final version of the plans put forward to committee for construction.” Residents and businesses in the immediate project area have been written to with details of the proposals and information on how to share their views. The deadline for comments is Friday 28 January, after which responses will be carefully considered and the outcomes reported back to the Transport for Norwich (TfN) Joint Committee. The joint committee is chaired by Norfolk County Council and made up of councillors from TfN partners Norwich City, Broadland District and South Norfolk councils. You can find out more about the proposals and take part in the consultation at www.norfolk.gov.uk/kettshill. The webpage will be kept up to date with the latest progress and information. This project is part of a wider programme of infrastructure changes in the Greater Norwich area, which was agreed by the county council’s Cabinet last year and is funded by the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund. As we deliver these projects, we are carrying out a series of public consultations to help identify any issues for consideration when finalising the plans we put forward for construction
The team in The Edge Health & Fitness Club at Barnham Broom is on a mission this New Year to motivate individuals and support them in reaching their fitness goals. Their fully qualified on-site Fitness & Wellbeing Instructors, work alongside members to determine their targets, plan how they can achieve these, and drive them towards success. Their spacious gym, spins bikes, swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and courts allow members to focus on their fitness and wellbeing. Alongside this, The Edge offers in-person and virtual fitness classes, which provide members with the option to try something different and exercise at a time that suits them best. The Edge is about much more than just going to the gym once a week. The Edge offers an experience where members can combine their visit to the superb facilities with a leisurely lunch in the Sports Bar, an afternoon tea with friends in the Brasserie Lounge, a Spa treatment or even a round of golf. The Edge team offers a personalised and helpful approach to each member to make sure that everyone gets the most out of their membership. They have recently launched their refer a friend scheme, where members can receive a £50 gift voucher if they introduce another individual to The Edge. This is a great incentive as the voucher can be used throughout the Barnham Broom resort, offering members the opportunity to indulge in a Spa treatment, dine in the Brasserie or even try their hand at a game of golf. In addition, The Edge offers many exclusive benefits to students, NHS, armed forces, corporate businesses, and more. Contact Barnham Broom, Honingham Road, Norwich, NR9 4DD | 01603 759741 | theedge@barnham-broom.co.uk | www.barnham-broom.co.uk/fitness
Preparations are underway for the Governing Body’s annual Volunteer Awards, which takes place later this week. The event which was postponed last year due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, will see two seasons of awards presented and the Charity partnership formally launched in front of all in attendance, including special guest and Norwich City Hall of Famer, Darren Eadie. In recent years Norfolk FA has supported various local charities including ‘The Skin Cancer Research Fund’, ‘It’s on the Ball’ and Norwich City FC’s ‘Community Sports Foundation’. Mind is a mental health charity in England and Wales that offers information and advice to support people with their mental health and lobbies government and local authorities on their behalf. It also works to raise public awareness and understanding of issues relating to mental health. There are 125 local Minds within the network. Each local Mind is unique. They understand the needs of their community and they tailor their services to match. Services include talking therapies, peer support, advocacy, crisis care, employment and housing support. As a local Mind, Norfolk and Waveney Mind operate as an independent, affiliated charity, raising its own funds with its own Board of Trustees. Norfolk and Waveney Mind offer a wide range of services including 1:1 talking therapies, gardening projects, access to employment services, mental health training and education for businesses, schools and individuals, residential care and support programmes. They also work within local communities to raise awareness and challenge stigma and discrimination. The partnership with Norfolk FA will enable Norfolk and Waveney Mind to utilise the wide reach that grassroots football has, to communicate important messaging to those involved in the local game, as well as provide valuable training to clubs and leagues to improve education and awareness across the football landscape. Being local associations to National bodies, it’s hoped that the two organisations’ strategies will collaborate effectively to have a positive impact on the local population. Ashley Bunn, Director of Strategy and Business Development for Norfolk and Waveney Mind, said: “We are delighted to be embarking on 3-year partnership with Norfolk County Football Association, especially at a time when the need for our services is greater than ever before. “Norfolk and Waveney Mind are busier than ever, 60% of adults and young people who did not experience poor mental health before the pandemic are now experiencing mental health issues. “We work to ensure that no one in Norfolk and Waveney has to face a mental health problem alone and partnerships like this enable us to reach far more people, helping to build healthier, more resilient communities.” Chairman of Norfolk FA, Michael Banham said: “We are proud to have a strong repertoire of local charities that we have supported in the past and I’m pleased that we will be adding to this by supporting the fantastic work that Norfolk and Waveney Mind undertake in raising awareness of and reducing the stigma associated to mental health. “The plans for the next three seasons with regards to education and raising awareness among our footballing communities is exciting, and I’m really looking forward to being involved in the delivery of what looks to be a very impactful partnership strategy.” Chief Executive of Norfolk FA, Matt Carpenter said: “Having just come through one of the most turbulent periods that our society will ever know, understanding the challenges others face with their psychological wellbeing is paramount. We’ve highlighted this in our new three season strategy with a commitment to supporting mental health, and by working closely with Norfolk and Waveney Mind we hope that Norfolk Football will become a community that’s educated and empowered to support one another on and off the pitch.” For more information surrounding Norfolk County Football Association, please visit NorfolkFA.com and for more information about Norfolk and Waveney Mind please visit norfolkandwaveneymind.org.uk. You can view the original article here
As world leaders meet in Glasgow at the COP 26 conference to discuss Climate Change, we thought it would be a good time to share what Hudson Architects is doing to help tackle the emergency! Hudson Architects is already committed to the RIBA Climate Challenge, pledging to design with a climate conscious trajectory in order to reach net zero by 2030. This year we have also turned the lens inwards; examining how our practice can make internal improvements to ensure that a sustainable ethos purveys throughout our office culture. A starting point for this has been signing up to the UK Government’s SME Climate Hub and joining the Norwich Business Climate Leaders initiative. The latter has been launched by Chris Sargisson and his team at The Norfolk Chamber, who we are working closely with to help pave the way for other Norfolk businesses to follow. The SME Climate Hub initiative provides tools and resources for businesses who sign up to a commitment to tackle climate change – at Hudson Architects we have committed to:
Halve our greenhouse gas emissions before 2030;
Achieve net zero emissions before 2050;
Disclose our progress on a yearly basis
The Climate Hub has collated a range of calculators we can use to measure our greenhouse gas emissions – from our office energy use, employee commutes to work and travel to meetings – so we can assess where we are, and where we need to get to. Corporate accountability is a cornerstone of the initiative, meaning we have committed to publishing an annual report on our progress. If we are to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and keep global temperatures in check we think it’s vital that everyone does what they can – from governments down to individuals – to help tackle this climate emergency. At Hudson Architects we want to go even further than these Climate Hub commitments and review much more about our business operations – looking at creative ways to reduce our waste, reviewing our office supplies, and sharing resources among employees. In the coming weeks we’ll be explain more about how we are doing all these things, in the hope that we might inspire others to join us; and we’re also looking forward to teaming up with the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and the Norwich Business Climate Leaders initiative – as they “set the exemplar of change and help save the world!” More Information on the Norwich Business Climate Leaders Initiative HERE. More Information on the UK Business Climate Hub HERE. You can view this origianal article from Hudson Architects HERE
Norfolk youngsters looking for a Sixth Form place now have the opportunity to apply for a brand new fully-funded Scholarship. ‘The Nelson Scholarship’ is for a Sixth Form place at Langley School, and it has just launched in conjunction with Norfolk business Nelsonspirit, whose founder Nigel Cushion will provide leadership support alongside work experience and mentoring opportunities to the successful Scholar. Four values – academic curiosity, confidence, kindness and integrity – are celebrated at co-educational independent school Langley and it’s these qualities that the entry criteria will seek out in applicants. Langley Headmaster Jon Perriss comments, “We’re thrilled to see The Nelson Scholarship in its first year. There are some inspiring future leaders and young stars in Norfolk, and we will be working closely with Nelsonspirit to discover and support the Scholars. Our aim is to offer youngsters the highest level of academic, co-curricular and leadership opportunities during their all-important A-Level years.” For a Sixth Form place in September 2022, applications for The Nelson Scholarship are now open until Wednesday 26th January 2022. Full details are available at langleyschool.co.uk/sixth-form/the-nelson-scholarship/. www.langleyschool.co.uk.