SCOTTISH TRANSPORT AWARDS 2011 – WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The best of Scotland’s transport industry were honoured at the prestigious Scottish Transport Awards last night.  The ceremony was held at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow. Hosted by radio and television presenter Grant Stott, and now in their ninth year, the Awards recognise excellence, innovation and progress across all areas of transport.

The top award of the night, Scottish Transport Local Authority of the Year, was presented to Fife Council for the second year running.  The Local Authority impressed the judges with their committed, enthusiastic team of transport officers who are strong on innovation, on overcoming hurdles to implementation and on lobbying the private sector to deliver common goals.  Road accident figures are at an all time low and since 2007, Fife has achieved a 90% increase in cycling to work, more than a 5% drop in driving to school and a 25% reduction in reported crime across its public transport network.

Scottish Public Transport Operator of the Year was also retained by Caledonian MacBrayne Hebridean & Clyde Ferries.  Since 2007 they have implemented an impressively wide-ranging series of improvements including a complete overhaul to passenger information systems; a new timetable to reflect community feedback; improved on-board passenger and catering facilities; and investment in staff training.  As a result, passenger satisfaction has significantly increased as have bookings.

The full list of winners and those who were highly commended is as follows:

1. Scottish Transport Local Authority of the Year

Winner – Fife Council

2. Best Bus Service  

Winner – Aberdeen City Council with Stagecoach Bluebird– JET 727

3. Excellence in Road Safety, Traffic Management and Enforcement

Winner – South Lanarkshire Council, SPT, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, South Lanarkshire Community Safety Partnership – Rural Roads Initiative

4. Best Transport Integration

Winner – SPT & North Lanarkshire – Croy Park and Ride

5. Best Practice in Travel to School and Work Schemes

Winner – Cycling Scotland – Give me Cycle Space Campaign

6. Best Cycling Improvements

Winner – Glasgow City Council – Cycling in Glasgow

7. Excellence in Walking & The Public Realm

Winner – City of Edinburgh Council – Grassmarket

8. The Public Transport Operator of the Year

Winner – Caledonian MacBrayne- Hebridean & Clyde Ferries

9. Contribution to Sustainable Transport

Winner – Central Scotland Consortium – Plugged In Places

10. Transport Project of the Year

Winner – Network Rail & Transport Scotland – Aidrie-Bathgate Rail Link

11. Excellence in Technology and Innovation

Winner – SPT & Glasgow City Council – Glasgow Social Work Voluntary Club Transport project

12. Transport Team/ Partnership of the Year

Winner – Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City and The Moray Councils & Road Safety Grampian – Operation Zenith

Commended – McGill's Buses/Western Ferries - Making Bus Travel Plain Sailing

13. Excellence in Travel Information & Marketing

Winner – Amey – ‘Be careful...People work here’

Commended –  Arriva Scotland West

14. Frontline Employee of the Year

Winner – Ann Murdoch, Service Delivery Manager, SPT

Commended

Iris Durno, Stagecoach Bluebird

John Telfer, Stagecoach West Scotland

Scott Linning, First in Glasgow

Ricki Campbell, First in Glasgow

Stephen O’Hara, Lothian Buses

Michael Cochrane, ScotRail

15. Lifetime contribution to Transport

Jim Barton

16. Outstanding contribution to Local Transport

Bob McLellan

For further information contact Transport Times Events

Contact name: Grant Poulton

Tel: 0207 828 3804

Email: grant.poulton@transporttimes.co.uk

Notes to editors

1. The Scottish Transport Awards organised by Transport Times Events, are supported by the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland.

The awards were judged by:

• Transport Times publisher and former government adviser 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, Business School, University of Glasgow

Photos of the event / winners are available via Simply Photography www.simply-photography.co.uk