The 22nd National Transport Awards took place last night at the Westminster Park Plaza in London, celebrating outstanding achievements across the UK transport sector. The event drew together over 650 senior figures from national and local government, transport operators, suppliers and industry bodies.
The evening was hosted by television and radio presenter and journalist Jeremy Vine and featured a keynote address from Lilian Greenwood MP, Minister for Local Transport, who praised the dedication and innovation demonstrated across the industry.
Minister for Local Transport, Lilian Greenwood, said:
"It was an honour to attend the National Transport Awards and see so many fantastic people and organisations receive the recognition they deserve.
"I am extremely proud of our transport sector which remains crucial to driving economic growth – a key part of our Plan for Change. The work of every operator and employee is essential to keep the country moving - and I congratulate all the winners on their tremendous success."
Regional highlights and standout wins
It was an impressive evening for the Northwest of England. Go North West Limited was named Bus Operator of the Year, building on strong growth, innovation and investment in cleaner fleets. Transport for Greater Manchester triumphed in the John Prescott Regional Transport Authority of the Year category, recognised for its scale of delivery and passenger focus. Liverpool City Region also celebrated success, winning Best Practice in Diversity, Inclusivity & Accessibility for its new Merseyrail trains scheme.
Blackpool Transport added to the northern success story, securing the Tram Operator of the Year title.
Scotland's transport sector also shone brightly. Edinburgh Airport was named Airport of the Year, while the City of Edinburgh Council won the Active Travel award for its Roseburn to Union Canal project, praised for delivering safe, attractive and popular routes for walking and cycling. Edinburgh projects also stood out in accessibility, while HITRANS earned a Highly Commended in the Regional Authority category for the second year running.
In rail, Greater Anglia was awarded Rail Operator of the Year, recognised for service reliability and improved customer experience, while LNER received a commendation. The landmark Belfast Grand Central Station project, delivered by Translink and Farrans Sacyr JV, was named Design, Engineering & Construction Project of the Year, underlining the importance of infrastructure in transforming regional connectivity.
Decarbonisation and innovation
The commitment to a greener transport system was strongly represented. DPD UK took home Exemplary Contribution to Net Zero for its ambitious Net Zero by 2040 strategy, while Warrington's Own Buses received a commendation for pioneering all-electric operations in partnership with Warrington Borough Council.
Kestrel Surveys impressed judges in the Digital and Technology Excellence category with its use of drone technology for traffic data collection, while First Bus Scotland was Highly Commended for its AI-driven timetabling.
The Best Practice in Diversity, Inclusivity & Accessibility award went to Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for its new Merseyrail trains, with Cabability recognised as Highly Commended.
Personal and special awards
The evening also celebrated the individuals making extraordinary contributions to the sector:
• Arriva UK Bus Driver Charles King was named Frontline Employee of the Year, praised for his outstanding dedication to passenger service.
• Arrival Rail Customer Host David Cranstoun received the Community Champion of the Year award, recognising his commitment to supporting local communities through transport.
• Diane Burke, COO of Caledonian MacBrayne, was honoured as Woman of the Year in partnership with Women in Transport, with Ana Stepic, Transport Engineer at Arriva UK Bus was Highly Commended.
Special recognition was reserved for senior leaders whose impact spans decades:
• Baroness Randerson received the Outstanding Contribution to Transport Award posthumously, reflecting her tireless advocacy for accessible and sustainable transport.
• Sir Andrew Haines, Chief Executive of Network Rail, received the Lifetime Contribution to Transport Award in tribute to his long-standing leadership and achievements across the rail industry.
Full list of winners – National Transport Awards 2025
This year's awards were supported by headline sponsors Hitachi Rail, First Bus, Go Ahead, Lothian Buses, Worldline and Blink, alongside partners Department for Transport, Transport Scotland, Transport for Wales, Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland), Transport Focus, ITS (UK), Passenger Transport and the Urban Transport Group.
For further information contact Transport Times Events
Grant Poulton, Managing Director
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