A member of the Edinburgh Trams team is on track for a top award at a prestigious event celebrating excellence in the light rail sector.
Marilena Papadopoulou is in the running for the Rising Star accolade at the Global Light Rail Awards in London next month, while Edinburgh’s acclaimed tramway is also hoping to pick up top honours in the Significant Safety Initiative category.
Having started work on the system as a Ticketing Services Assistant in 2014, Marilena has since risen through the ranks while facing her own personal challenges, including undergoing cancer treatment.
As Renewals Manager, she is now responsible for the 10-year programme with a budget of £50m having worked in a number of departments over the past eight years, including HR and Engineering. During this time, she’s also completed a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Energy Engineering.
Colin Kerr, Edinburgh Trams Head of Safety & Projects, commented:
Marilena has excelled at everything she has been asked to do, and, as a result, she’s enjoyed a swift rise through the organisation and has become a highly valued member of the team.
Her broad experience is set to play an important role in the future success of our growing network. She has already excelled within Edinburgh Trams and is surely a rising star of the wider light rail sector.
Every year, the Global Light Rail Awards highlights exceptional innovation, performance and customer service across a range of categories, and Edinburgh Trams has also been shortlisted for the safety accolade following a series of exercises designed to refine the operator’s response to potential emergencies.
While the operator takes pride in its excellent safety record, it is never complacent and has worked closely with emergency services and other key stakeholders to test its processes and procedures.
Safety is always our overriding priority, which is why we are particularly pleased to be shortlisted in this category, Colin said.
To be among the frontrunners for these honours at such a prestigious industry event also reflects a broader commitment to excellence across the entire Edinburgh Trams team, he added.
The winners are set to be announced during a gala event at London’s Honourable Artillery Company on Wednesday, October 5.
