60 SECONDS WITH ARIANE ALLY

Every Month on Exchange Extra, we take sixty seconds out to get to know our team. Follow us on our journey to connect all members of our network.

This month we introduce you to Ariane Ally!

Name: Ariane Ally

Job title: Industry partnerships manager

Location: Palestra

Hi Ariane! Please sum up your role in one sentence

I manage ARL’s Industry Contractual Agreements, particularly those relating to Station Access Agreements and Leases.

Tell us about your journey to ARL…

Previously, I worked for Network Rail for almost 9 years. My last role at Network Rail was station portfolio surveyor for the ARL/LUL account. While at Network Rail, I was also a Suicide Prevention Project Lead and Route Crime Lead for Sussex. My first role out of university was working for a Partnerships Manager, so I’ve come full circle in a way, and I’m now nearing the end of my first month at ARL.

What do you look forward to most working at ARL?

I’m looking forward to working in a TOC and a concession, as it’s such a unique arrangement. I have always had a positive experience working with ARL as a customer, and I hope to apply my experiences working with Network Rail to my new role.

So far, what are you most proud of in your career?

I am proud to be part of the industry’s first suicide prevention campaign – Small Talk Saves Lives. While at NR, I led the campaigns on behalf of the team, built new partnerships with charities, and helped plan some of our campaign kick-offs at managed stations. Knowing that my work could positively impact someone’s life was extremely rewarding.

Tell us about your most memorable railway trip…

This summer, I spent a week in Norway and took a train from Flåm to Myrdal, which was amazing. It’s a beautiful place, and the views were surreal. The train made a few stops through villages, some with only a few families, and there were stops at Kjosfossen waterfall and the Flåm zipline, the biggest in the Nordic region.

Where would you go if you could book a ticket to any destination?

My favourite place is Barrydale, a small town about 3 hours outside of Cape Town. It’s a relaxed place, mainly inhabited by retirees who gather at the local café at the same time each day. With a population of around 4,000, the town has a lovely community, including an art gallery and a converted house now serving as a library. On load-shedding evenings, everyone heads to the local restaurant, which has a pizza oven and often becomes an impromptu music gig.