12 April 2012
The Go-Ahead Group has launched a new Twitter account to
update "followers" about the company's rail
and bus operations. You can follow Go-Ahead at
@GoAheadGroup. The new Twitter account is in addition to
the range of award-winning social media activity already
underway in the Group's bus and rail companies.
Many of Go-Ahead's businesses use Twitter and
Facebook to keep passengers updated with
service-running information and latest product and ticket
offers.
London Midland @LondonMidland currently holds the Putting
Passengers First National Rail Award for using
Twitter to communicate with customers. The London
Midland Twitter feed has led the rail industry in
transforming the way information is delivered to passengers
during disruption, with high profile events including the
harsh winter of 2010, a fire on board a train at Leighton
Buzzard last year, and a number of incidents affecting the
London and Birmingham commuter markets. To date, London
Midland has sent over 58000 tweets - more than any other
train company in the world -and has 15000 followers.
London Midland also ranks top out of all UK train
companies in the Twitter Engagement Index which looks at
levels of customer service delivered through rail company
Twitter accounts. Gatwick Express (@GatwickExpress) and
Southern (@SouthernRailUK),which
has 7000 followers, are ranked fourth and fifth
respectively.
Go North East was one of the first UK bus companies to
communicate with passengers using Facebook. The company now
has 42000 fans on Facebook, and posts competitions, quizzes
and photo campaigns on the site. The company has involved
local social media experts as the site has developed. Go
North East recently introduced a mobile app called the
keymobile so that users can select specific service
information alongside more general news and offers.
Go North East also has a Twitter account with nearly
3500 followers (@gonortheast). Last year, the company
worked with PR agency Admiral on an award winning campaign
to launch the key smartcard. The campaign used social media
platforms to push out flash mob videos and launch updates.
Metrobus was the first Go-Ahead bus company to establish a
Facebook page and now keeps 12000 fans up to date,
providing the very latest service news, 24 hours a
day. Oxford Bus Company doubled the number of
Facebook "likes" overnight while providing
service updates during the heavy snowfall in February.
Go-Ahead's businesses have also identified ways of
using social media to interact with staff, many of
whom use Twitter and Facebook in their daily lives.
Southeastern for example, has a dedicated business
and social network for its 3500 employees.
Samantha Hodder, Go-Ahead's Interim Corporate
Affairs Director said: "Our bus and rail services are
used by more than 1.7million passengers a day and they want
access to quick and accurate information about their
services and the products we offer. Twitter and Facebook
deliver that and also enable our passengers to exchange
information about our services. We are committed to
becoming a social business and to embracing new and
developing communication platforms which add to
our established communication tools such as our
award-winning websites."
Go-Ahead Group will continue to distribute press notices
via email and through the Go-Ahead Group website www.go-ahead.com
Ends
For further information, please contact:
GO-AHEAD
Go-Ahead is a leading UK public transport operator,
providing high quality services in the bus and rail
sectors. Employing around 22,000 people across the country,
over one billion passenger journeys are undertaken on our
services each year. We are committed to operating our
companies in a safe, socially and environmentally
responsible way and are proud to have been reaccredited
with Carbon Trust Standard after taking action on climate
change. In addition to the travelling public, our customers
include the Department for Transport, Transport for London
(TfL) and local authorities.
BUS
Go-Ahead is one of the UK's largest bus operators. With a
fleet of around 3,900 buses, we carry, on average, around
1.7 million passengers every day. Our operations are
focused on high density commuter markets. We have a strong
presence in London, with around 22per cent market share,
where we provide regulated services for TfL. We operate
deregulated services in Oxford, East Anglia, the South
East, Southern and North East England. We also have a
yellow school bus joint venture in North America.
RAIL
The rail operation, Govia, is 65per cent owned by Go-Ahead
and 35per cent by Keolis. It is the busiest rail operation
in the UK, responsible for nearly 30per cent of all UK
passenger rail journeys through its three rail franchises:
Southern (which includes the Gatwick Express), Southeastern
and London Midland. In December 2009, Southeastern began
operating the UK's first high speed domestic rail
service between Kent and London, significantly reducing
journey times.
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