To coincide with the UEFA Euros 2024, TransPennine Express (TPE) has launched new name badges that identify staff who can speak different languages.

The new name badges have the corresponding country’s flag at the top left-hand side of their badge to identify TransPennine Express staff who can converse in a language other than English.

By introducing the new badges, TransPennine Express hopes they will help customers who may need extra support on the railway, especially those who don’t understand English or speak it as their first language.
The idea for the language badges originally came from a Revenue Protection Assistant.

So far, more than 50 members of TransPennine Express staff have signed up to be identified with a language badge.

To mark the launch of the name badge scheme, TransPennine Express colleagues from across its network have recorded a short video that pays tribute to the UEFA Euros 2024 and welcomes customers in several languages, including Bengali, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, and Urdu.

Last year, TransPennine Express introduced a multi-lingual facility for its digital information screens that provide information in 13 languages as well as English.

Digital information screens that display British Sign Language announcements are also being introduced across the country.

At TPE, we’re always looking at new ways of improving the experience for customers and we hope that our language name badges make even more people feel welcomed and included when travelling with us.

With the Euros currently taking place in Germany, we thought it would be the ideal time to highlight this initiative, and I would encourage people to look out for the special badges when they are next travelling by train.

Along with fellow colleagues from across the business, I’m very proud to have an Italian flag pictured on my own name badge.

Chris Jackson, Managing Director at TransPennine Express

The introduction of the badges has allowed me to support customers who may need assistance in French or German.

I learnt French and German at school, so it’s great that I’m able to use my language skills whenever I get the chance.

Dan Clarke, Conductor at TransPennine Express