16/07/2010
- Transport group wins top bus award for second consecutive year
Stagecoach Manchester was last night (Thursday 15 July) named Public Transport Operator of the Year at the 2010 National Transport Awards.
The company scooped the prestigious top bus operator award at a ceremony in Manchester’s Palace Hotel after impressing judges with its passenger growth, health and safety record and customer service.
The award marks a double achievement for Stagecoach Group after its Bluebird bus company also scooped the Public Transport Operator (Bus) honour at the 2009 National Transport Awards.
Stagecoach UK Bus Managing Director Les Warneford said: “This is a great achievement on its own and to be named Britain's best bus operator two years in a row is a fantastic result. The hard work of our team in Manchester is a great example of the success we have achieved in attracting more people to our greener, smarter services through great value fares, continued investment and good customer service."
Stagecoach Manchester now carries more than 96million passengers a year on a fleet of more than 650 vehicles. The company has achieved passenger growth in both adult and concessionary markets of 23% in the past five years and continues to attract new users through route and ticket promotions.
Since 2006, Stagecoach Manchester has invested more than £44million in around 300 new double decker vehicles and 62% of its bus fleet complies with Euro 3 emissions standards or higher. In line with Stagecoach Group’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the company also buys most of its energy from renewable sources and recycles over 70% of all waste.
Stagecoach Manchester Managing Director Mark Threapleton added: “This award is for every one of our drivers, engineers, cleaners and the rest of our team behind the scenes who work tirelessly every day to provide the best service possible for our customers. Partnership working is also crucial to our success and I would like to thank all our partner organisations for their continued support in our drive to provide first class bus services for passengers in Greater Manchester.”
The National Transport Awards recognise excellence across the transport industry in the UK and Ireland and are organised in association with Transport Times. A total of 20 awards were presented across a range of categories, recognising excellence in transport delivery, travel information and marketing, innovation, walking and cycling, sustainable transport, bus and rail services, accessibility and customer service.
In total, 10 Stagecoach bus and rail companies were shortlisted for nominations at this year’s awards.
Stagecoach has won a clutch of awards within the past year. The company again led the way at the 2009 UK Bus Awards, winning three awards and claiming two runners-up spots. Stagecoach West Scotland won the Partnership of the Year honour at the 2009 Scottish Transport Awards and Stagecoach Group was also named Best Green Travel Provider at the 2009 Scottish Green Awards.
For further information on Stagecoach UK Bus visit www.stagecoachbus.com
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact: Stagecoach Group Communications on
01738 442111 or email media@stagecoachgroup.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs 30,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services. Stagecoach is one of UK's biggest bus and coach operators, running around 7,000 vehicles from south-west England to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and carrying around 2 million passengers every day.
