BUS FIRMS AWARD SHORTLIST

A RUNCORN bus operator is among those nominated for an award at an industry ceremony.

The Routeone Awards 2019 shortlist has been announced and Anthony’s Travel is in the running for the Operator Training Award.

Now in its 50th year and firmly established as an annual highlight in the industry calendar, the awards are organised by coach and bus trade publication Routeone to recognise and reward the industry’s most outstanding operators and people.

Finalists in the running for two or more of the awards include Arriva Yorkshire, Eastons Holidays, Greys Of Ely, Lucketts Group, Maynes Coaches, Passenger Plus, Reading Buses and Stagecoach.

Anthony’s Travel, Go South Coast, The Harrogate Bus Company, The Kings Ferry and White’s St Albans are among the previous year’s winners hoping to take home another of the gongs on offer.

They will be competing for recognition across categories including Operator Training, Best Use Of Technology, Commitment To The Environment, and Excellence In Coach, Bus And Minibus Operation.

As in previous years, shortlisting for the five categories dedicated to ‘people’ – including managers, engineers and the sector’s rising stars – will take place next month once contenders have been interviewed by the judging panel.

All the winners will be revealed at the presentation evening on Wednesday, October 2, at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, following the first day of the industry’s dedicated trade show, Coach & Bus UK 2019.

Routeone editor Tim Deakin said: “We received a record number of entries for this year’s awards, but more than just the quantity, it was the quality of the submissions that stood out.

“The 2019 shortlist reflects that – from the big names to the small operators, the list of finalists is an incredible and varied line-up of exemplary operators driving forward the industry.

“Congratulations and good luck to all our finalists.”