The UK’s top coach and bus operators were revealed last night (2 October) at the routeone Awards 2019.
Held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, following the first day of the Coach & Bus UK trade show, the annual awards – now in their fifteenth year – recognise the achievements of both operators and individuals working within the coach and bus industry.
Arriva Yorkshire, Passenger Plus, Abellio London, Bluestar, Woods Travel, Greys of Ely, Warrington’s Own Buses, The Kings Ferry, and Oxford Bus Company were among the winning operators at this year’s awards. Individuals from Arriva Derby, Arriva Luton and Arriva Milton Keynes, Arriva Yorkshire, Ensignbus Co, Go North East, and National Express West Midlands took home prizes in the ‘people’ categories.
David Luckett MBE, Chairman of Lucketts Group, a leading family-owned coach operator based in Fareham, Hampshire, received this year’s Special Award – the only category nominated directly by the judges.
The evening kicked off with a performance from actor and comedian Hugh Dennis, who was then joined by co-host Tim Deakin, editor of routeone, to present the Awards to the 2019 winners.
“The routeone Awards have established themselves as the most important annual celebration of the very best in the business,” says Helen Conway, event director at Diversified Communications UK (organiser of the Awards and the Coach & Bus UK show).
“Once again the quality of this year’s Awards finalists was exceptional. Standing out from the crowd is no mean feat in such an innovative, creative and dedicated industry, but our 2019 winners do just that.
“From the big names to the smaller operators, they have been singled out for their continuing commitment to delivering an all-round incredible passenger transport experience. Congratulations again to each of our fantastic winners,” she says.
“But let’s not forget our finalists. They contributed greatly to the event’s success and we look forward to seeing them, and others, at a future routeone Awards presentation evening”
The 2019 routeone Awards winners are:
Operator Training Award
Winner: Arriva Yorkshire
Manager of the Year, small/medium operator, up to 150 vehicles
Winner: Raj Chander, Arriva Derby
Manager of the Year, large operator, over 150 vehicles
Winner: Linsey Frostick, Arriva Luton and Arriva Milton Keynes
Engineer of the Year, small/medium operator, up to 150 vehicles
Winner: Jason Jackson, Ensignbus Co
Engineer of the Year, large operator, over 150 vehicles
Winner: Colin Barnes, Go North East
Rising Star
Winners: Emily Bainbridge, Arriva Yorkshire; Katie McGrath, National Express West Midlands
Best Use of Technology, up to 150 vehicles
Winner: Passenger Plus
Best Use of Technology, over 150 vehicles
Winner: Abellio London
Environment Award
Winner: Bluestar
Excellence in Minibus Operation
Winner: Passenger Plus
Small Coach Operator, 1 – 15 vehicles
Winner: Woods Travel, Bognor Regis
Medium Coach Operator, 16 – 50 vehicles
Winner: Greys of Ely
Small/Medium Bus Operator, 1 – 150 vehicles
Winner: Warrington’s Own Buses
Large Coach Operator, over 50 vehicles
Winner: The Kings Ferry
Large Bus Operator, over 150 vehicles
Winner: Oxford Bus Company
Special Award
Winner: David Luckett, Lucketts Group
This year’s judging panel was made up of leading industry professionals, including Tony Kennan, former Prodmutual Transport Group Director; Chris Heaps, former Traffic Commissioner; Richard Delahoy, Coach and Bus Training Consultant; Joan Aitken, former Traffic Commissioner for Scotland; Kevin Wood, Key Account Director at Alexander Dennis Limited; Kevin Middleton, Engineering Consultant; Steve Dewhurst, former Volvo Bus Managing Director; and Peter Nash, former Head of Commercial Policy for Stagecoach UK Bus.