New post to raise profile of pioneering transport group

05/02/1999

SWELTRAC, a pro-active transport partnership headed by the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames, has appointed a new Communications Director to raise the profile of the work it is doing to improve public transport in south and west London. The South and West London Transport Conference (SWELTRAC) is made up of train and bus operators (including Railtrack, South West Trains and London Transport), passenger and business interests and eleven local authorities.

John Barkley, who was pivotal in the development of SWELTRAC during his time as Director at Richmond upon Thames Council and now a management and transport consultant, has taken on the role of Communications Director.

One of John's first tasks, since appointment, has been to carry out one to one interviews with some of the organisations involved with the partnership, to see how closer joint working can be beneficial to all parties, not least to the travelling public. Those interviewed include: -

• Steven Norris, Director General of the Road Haulage Association

• Julie Grail, Kingston Town Centre Manager

• Vincent Cable MP

• Geoff Harrison-Mee, Managing Director of Connex

One innovative outcome of the interviews is a South London seminar, being organised by SWELTRAC and to be hosted in March 1999 by Connex. The seminar, which will involve working with the Transport industry, SELTRANS (South East London Transport Strategy) and Transport Planners, will examine: -

• How rail services are publicised ?

• How modal share can be shifted from car to public transport ?

• Agree key messages to the travelling public and how to deliver them

A major SWELTRAC project is the £5m Feltham Station Interchange improvements and bus shuttle to Heathrow - funded by Railtrack, South West Trains and London Transport, BAA and central government.

Other projects include bus, signal and interchange schemes at Wimbledon, Kingston, Twickenham and Hounslow.

"SWELTRAC is leading on initiatives that will be needed more widely if the exciting objectives in the Government's Transport White paper are to be realised", said John on his appointment.