Local bus operator First Scotland East has been shortlisted for three much coveted Scottish Transport Awards, it confirmed today (Thursday).

In the Central Belt, where it operates as First Midland Bluebird, its high profile X38 service has been nominated for Scotland’s ‘Best Bus Service’ after efforts to improve the service for customers resulted in a 12% rise in patronage.

Travelling through some of the most beautiful, historic parts of Scotland, First aimed to improve the quality of journeys for passengers travelling between Stirling, Falkirk, Linlithgow, Edinburgh and communities in between.

Buses were refreshed and free Wi-Fi was installed in every vehicle on the route, keeping customers connected on the move. A successful fares promotion was held to attract new passengers and complimentary travel vouchers were distributed to over 35,000 households in the Falkirk and Edinburgh areas, with many of the returnees being new customers to the service.

The Scottish Transport Awards also announced that First Scotland East’s company-wide drive towards sustainable transport and environmental improvements resulted in it being shortlisted in the Sustainable Transport category.

And finally bus driver Mark Smith is in the running for the celebrated ‘Frontline Employee of the Year’ Award.

Based at the rural Balfron depot near Stirling, Mark was recently named First’s Employee of the Year for his quick-thinking which saved the life of a local woman who’d left a distressed note after travelling on one of First’s local bus services.

Managing Director of First Scotland East, Paul McGowan, said: 'To be shortlisted for three Scottish Transport Awards is a fantastic recognition of the great work being done day in day out by staff in the Scotland East area to improve services and attract more customers on board.

'The X38 is now among the top performing in the First Midland Bluebird fleet and that’s been down to great work carried out by our staff to improve the service for our customers and promote it far and wide.
'Being shortlisted for these important awards really reflects the hard work and commitment from our team not only to improve services but support our communities and ultimately encourage more people across the east of Scotland to travel by bus.'

The Scottish Transport Awards will take place June 18 in Glasgow.