Bus companies and local authorities across Yorkshire are celebrating after success in the prestigious UK Bus Awards. They were selected from a record 210 entries from around the country, and received their prizes before 650 industry professionals at a glittering ceremony at London’s Hilton Hotel on 12th November.

Arriva Yorkshire’s Phil Cummins was runner up in the new Engineer of the Year award, designed to recognise outstanding achievement by managers involved in maintaining Britain’s bus fleets.

FirstGroup’s Leeds- based Property Division was runner up in the Innovation category for their ‘Small Changes, Big Difference’ environmental campaign.

Two projects in the Infrastructure category were given highly commended awards. The first went to South Yorkshire Passenger Transport’s work on bus infrastructure in Doncaster, at Frenchgate and on the A638 corridor. The second was awarded to North Yorkshire County Council and their partners for the Scarborough Park & Ride initiative.

Transdev’s Yorkshire Coastliner company, which provides a busy service linking Leeds and York with Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and Bridlington, was also highly commended in the Shire Operator of the Year.

Congratulating all the finalists, UK Bus Awards chairman John Owen said he was “delighted” not only with the record breaking number of entries for 2009 but also the quality of those entries. He commented: “Not only have we received a record 210 entries across the categories this year, we are also hugely impressed by the standards of all of those entries giving the judges such a difficult time. It is thrilling to see such enthusiasm for the awards, particularly against such a harsh economic backdrop.”

The lunchtime awards ceremony was compered by BBC Economics Editor, Stephanie Flanders and the prizes were presented by Anthony Smith, chief executive of consumer watchdog Passenger Focus.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. UK Bus Awards was founded in 1996 and is run by an independent special purpose not-for-dividend company.
2. The UK Bus Awards Scheme is designed to recognise and reward excellence and good practice in a wide range of disciplines associated with the operation, design and promotion of bus services. Its mission is also to use the inspiration of the winning projects to inspire others to emulate the winning schemes, projects or organisations.
3. Before deciding the winners, finalists in the operating categories have been checked by “mystery travellers” to ensure that service delivery is up to the mark.

4. Stills photography and video footage/live links will be made available to media organisations and live radio links can be arranged at the ceremony. Contact Anne Harper or Jackie Wurr in the first instance. Press queries should be directed to the Trinity Partnership’s Anne Harper on 07840 984 560/email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Jackie Wurr on 079740 84784/email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .