Scotland’s bus companies are celebrating today with the announcement that they have been short-listed in seven award categories in the 2010 UK Bus Awards.
They have been selected from 200 highly competitive entries from across the country and the winners will be announced at the prestigious awards ceremony to be held at London’s Hilton Hotel on the 16th November. FirstGroup UK Bus is on the Infrastructure shortlist for its £14m hi tech and environmentally friendly First in Aberdeen's New Bus Depot
Shortlisted in the Express Coach Operation of the Year award is Stagecoach East Scotland’s Express City Connect which operates between Fife and Edinburgh.

It’s also an exceptionally strong showing by Lothian Buses which is shortlisted in five categories which are: City Operator of the Year; the Environment Award for its Zero Waste project recycling all waste from its buses and the Infrastructure category for BusTracker which offers a real-time passenger information and fleet management system.

The two other categories which include Lothian Buses in their shortlists are the Accessibility: Claudia Flanders Memorial Award for completing the conversion of all services to low floor, easy access buses eight years ahead of the Government deadline in the Easy Access for All project.
And vying for top honours in the prestigious Engineer Award of the Year is Lothian Buses’ highly regarded engineering director Bill Devlin.

Congratulating all the shortlisted entries, UK Bus Awards chairman John Owen commented: “We’ve been absolutely delighted with both the quantity and quality of entries for the 2010 UK Bus Awards. Despite the pressures caused by the harsh economic climate and the Competition Commission inquiry into the bus industry, we’ve been hugely impressed by the commitment to quality and innovation shown by bus operators, local authorities and their partners in this, the Awards 15th year.”

And he added:” The judges have had an extremely tough time selecting the shortlist, and the final decision is going to be very difficult indeed, I wish all the nominees every success at this year’s event in November.”

Press queries, including images, should be directed to the Trinity Partnership’s Jackie Wurr on 079740 84784/email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Anne Harper on 07840 984 560/email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.ukbusawards.org.uk

Notes to 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. The 2010 UK Bus Awards will be presented at a lunchtime ceremony on 16th November at the London Hilton.
4. Before deciding the winners, finalists in the operating categories will be checked by “mystery travellers” to ensure that service delivery is up to the mark.
5. The shortlist for the competition was announced today at a ceremony at the University of Warwick. The announcement formed part of the UKBA Annual Conference, which offers bus industry representatives an opportunity to hear more from those who are leading the way in quality and innovation, including winners of previous years’ Awards. The conference included guest speakers and a visit to the award-winning PrimeLines Project in Coventry
6. Further details of the shortlisted entries in Scotland for the 2010 competition are shown below.

Scotland’s Shortlisted Entries

FirstGroup UK Bus

AWARD CATEGORY: Infrastructure

ENTRY TITLE: First in Aberdeen's Bus Depot

Description of Entry

In 2009, First in Aberdeen opened its brand new £14m bus depot - widely regarded as the best in Britain.  It's equipped with the latest technology, is the greenest depot of its type; has made a significant positive contribution operationally and has been hugely welcomed by First in Aberdeen staff.

Lothian Buses plc

AWARD CATEGORY: City Operator of the Year

Description of Entry

Lothian Buses is the UK's largest publicly owned bus company, operating 600 buses across 50 different routes in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Over 350,000 passengers use Lothian Buses every day. In 2009 the fleet became entirely low-floor and easy access, eight years ahead of Government mandate deadlines, and made public transport even more sustainable with a variety of green initiatives.

Lothian Buses plc

AWARD CATEGORY: Environment Award

ENTRY TITLE: Zero Waste

Description of Entry

Public transport has become even more sustainable in Scotland's capital city after Lothian Buses transformed its waste processes. After a detailed waste composition analysis from the litter left on buses revealed 95% of the waste was recyclable, all waste from the buses now goes for recycling saving tonnages to landfill and subsequent Greenhouse gases as waste products decompose.

Lothian Buses plc

AWARD CATEGORY: Infrastructure

ENTRY TITLE: BusTracker: A real-time passenger information and fleet management system

Description of Entry

Lothian Buses now has a real-time passenger information and fleet management system.  Launched in 2004 after three years of planning it is now one of the most ambitious, comprehensive and technically advanced in the UK.  The system includes 600 vehicles operated by Lothian Buses, 350 LCD signs on the streets of Edinburgh and the Lothians and features bus priority installations and web applications.

Lothian Buses plc

AWARD CATEGORY: Accessibility: Claudia Flanders Memorial Award

ENTRY TITLE: Easy Access for All

Description of Entry

Lothian Buses is Britain's largest publicly owned bus company, operating 600 buses across Edinburgh and the Lothians.  In 2009 the fleet became entirely low-floor and easy access, when the last traditional step-entrance buses were withdrawn, eight years ahead of the Government's deadline.  As this milestone approached, the company refined and developed its policies to deliver easy access for all.

Lothian Buses plc

AWARD CATEGORY: Engineer Award of the Year

SHORTLISTED: Bill Devlin

Description of Entry

Bill Devlin is a first class engineering director with a long-standing career of leading, innovating, training and managing PVC engineering functions with a track record of high standards and success.  Having led the engineering side of the Lothian Buses business for over a decade which features a 600 strong fleet, Bill has achieved a consistent 99.5% MOT pass rate and only three delayed prohibitions in the last five years, ensuring that the highest possible safety standards are delivered to customers day in day out.

Stagecoach East Scotland

AWARD CATEGORY: Express Coach Operation of the Year

ENTRY TITLE: Express City Connect

Description of Entry

Express City Connect operates between Fife and Edinburgh; the routes are designed to encourage modal shift for passengers travelling to Edinburgh by car or train.  With 29 brand new vehicles introduced in late 2007, the buses have leather seats and free Wi-Fi access, a popular feature with commuters.  The routes also became carbon neutral in 2008.

ENDS