TRAIN operator GNER has achieved two safety awards, underlining its improvement in safety.

The York company won a gold award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents at its first attempt.The award recognises the high levels of safety management and continuously improving accident or injury performance over a four-year period.

Separately, GNER has become the only UK train operator to achieve Level Seven status in the International Safety Rating System, an independent benchmark for assessing the effectiveness of a company's safety process and procedures. GNER's award is higher than most other transport companies in the world.

Jonathan Metcalfe, the company's chief operating officer, said: "These awards are testimony to a lot of hard work and our continued determination to place safety at the heart of what we do.

"We are never complacent about safety, but it is encouraging that further progress is being made."

ISRS covers occupational health and welfare and Health and Safety at Work standards.