PRESS RELEASE: SCOTTISH TRANSPORT AWARDS 2013 – WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The best of Scotland’s transport industry were honoured last night at the 11th Annual Scottish Transport Awards in front of 300 industry professionals. Hosted by television presenter Hazel Irvine, the ceremony was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow. Now in their eleventh year the Awards recognise excellence, innovation and progress across all areas of transport in Scotland.
The top award of the night, Scottish Transport Local Authority of the Year endorsed by ScotRail, was presented to Aberdeen City Council. Scotland’s top authority for transport demonstrated that partnership working is at the core of their work. Working with the regional transport partnership, Nestrans, the council has developed initiatives such as the strategic transport fund and by the end of 2014 Aberdeen will have the largest fleet of hydrogen buses in Europe. Aberdeen is currently developing a sustainable urban mobility plan, a transport master plan for the city centre and its six arterial routes to maximise sustainable transport initiatives and lock in the benefits of the western peripheral route.
Scottish Public Transport Operator of the Year was jointly won by Caledonian MacBrayne and ScotRail. In 2012 Caledonian MacBrayne made a number of high-level appointments to create a new senior management team and introduced new board members with a fresh perspective. It has invested time, energy and money in partnership working to improve “lifeline” ferry services, raise the local tourism profile and improve the passenger experience. A winner for the second year running, ScotRail has achieved record-breaking public performance measure ratings. Up from 90.7% in April 2012 to 93.7% in mid-January 2013. The number employed by ScotRail has risen 30% since the franchise started in 2004 and it is currently recruiting 18 trainee drivers for the forthcoming Borders railway.
BAM Nuttall won Rail Supplier of the Year endorsed by Network Rail for their collaboration and interface management as part of the Edinburgh-Glasgow improvement programme to minimise the impact on local residents.
There were three personal awards given out on the night, firstly to recognise outstanding journalism in Scotland which was awarded to Damien Henderson for his work as transport correspondent at the Herald. Secondly the Frontline Employee of the Year went to Stagecoach East Scotland Bus Driver Mike Reid for his excellent customer service skills and charity work. The Lifetime Contribution to Transport was awarded to former communications manager at Virgin Trains Allan McLean not only for his work at Virgin but prior to that as transport correspondent at the Scotsman where he broke numerous exclusive stories and demonstrated an insightful understanding of the sector.
Full list of winners and commendations:-
Transport Local Authority of the Year sponsored by ScotRail
Aberdeen City Council
Best Bus Service
First Glasgow - Glasgow Shuttle Airport Link
Commended: SPT - Rural Lifeline Service 258 & 259 Lanark to Lesmahagow & Douglas/Glespin
Most Effective Road Safety, Traffic Management and Enforcement Project sponsored by FirstGroup
Fife Community Safety Partnership - Safe Drive Stay Alive
Integrated Transport Project of the Year
SPT - Hillhead Subway Station: A Showcase for Modernisation
Commended: Glasgow City Council - East End Regeneration Route
Best Practice in Travel to School and Work Schemes
Midlothian Council - Cycling Secondary Schools
Commended: Fife Council - Fife Council's Travel Plan
Achievements in Cycling
Aberdeenshire Council - Peterhead Cycle Demonstration Town
Commended: SPT - Cycling in Strathclyde
Excellence in Walking & the Public Realm sponsored by Clear Channel
Fife Council - Kirkcaldy Town Centre
Public Transport Operator of the Year
Caledonian MacBrayne and ScotRail
Commended: Lothian Buses
Contribution to Sustainable Transport
Lothian Buses
Most Innovative Transport Project of the Year
Aberdeen City Council - Strategic Transport Fund
Excellence in Technology and Innovation sponsored by BAM Nuttall
Stagecoach East Scotland - Improving Relations Through Social Media
Transport Team/ Partnership of the Year
ScotRail and Network Rail - PaCE - Paisley Canal Electrification
Excellence in Travel Information & Marketing
SPT - iShoogle App
Frontline Employee of the Year
Mike Reid, Stagecoach East Scotland
Commended:
Steven Godfrey, First Aberdeen
Raul Campos Falgado, Lothian Buses
Mike Edwards, First Aberdeen
Kenny Monaghan, Stagecoach Glasgow
Scottish Airport of the Year
Edinburgh Airport Ltd
Rail Restoration Project of the Year sponsored by IDP Architects
Balfour Beatty - Forth Bridge
Contribution to Transport Journalism in Scotland
Damien Henderson, former Transport Correspondent, The Herald
Lifetime Contribution to Transport in Scotland
Allan McLean, former Communications Manager, Virgin Trains
Rail Supplier of the Year sponsored by Network Rail
BAM Nuttall – Collaboration and Interface Management Brings Real Added Value
For further information contact Transport Times Events
Contact name: Grant Poulton
Tel: 0207 828 3804
Email: [email protected]
Notes to editors
1. The Scottish Transport Awards organised by Transport Times Events, are supported by the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland.
2. The awards were judged by:
· Transport Times Chief Executive and former government advisor Prof David Begg(Chair of the Judging Panel)
· David Middleton, Chief Executive, Transport Scotland
· Prof George Hazel OBE, Chairman of MRC McLean Hazel Ltd
· Prof Iain Docherty, Professor of Public Policy and Governance, Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow
3. Photos of the event / winners are available via Simply Photography www.simply-photography.co.uk
