The 21st annual Scottish Transport Awards in Glasgow celebrated outstanding contributions to Scotland's transport sector. Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop MSP, delivered a compelling keynote address at the prestigious dinner, hosting 420 professionals from the transport industry at Glasgow's Marriott Hotel on June 20, 2024. The event honoured individuals and organisations driving impactful change in Scotland's transport sector.
Ms Hyslop said:
"It was an honour to speak at last night's (Thursday) awards ceremony and recognise the achievements of some previously unsung heroes in our transport sector.
"I particularly enjoyed handing out the Frontline Employee of the Year award, and also meeting so many people who are working so hard behind the scenes, day in, day out, to keep Scotland moving.
"It was my 2nd Scottish Transport Awards, and I was able to reflect on the progress made over the past 12 months on so many projects and initiatives. However, we must keep up momentum and continue to build on these foundations. There is much still to do, and we will only deliver lasting change by working together on our key ambitions and priorities.
"Well done everyone on such a fitting occasion to celebrate your success."
City of Edinburgh Council had a triumphant night, securing three awards. They were recognised for Excellence in Transport Design for their City Centre West to East Link and street improvements project, Excellence in Transport Planning for their City Mobility Plan, and Hannah Ross, Head of Major Projects and Commissioning, received an individual award for her outstanding contribution to the Scottish transport sector.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport clinched the esteemed Transport Local Authority of the Year award amidst stiff competition from other prominent local authorities. Their dedication to initiatives like modernising the Glasgow Subway and the visionary Clyde Metro project impressed judges, highlighting their commitment to addressing climate change and fostering inclusive economic growth through innovative transport strategies.
Scottish Citylink's dedication to excellence in public transport has been recognised with the prestigious Public Transport Operator of the Year award. The remarkable 21% increase in passenger numbers can be attributed to service enhancements, new routes, and improved frequency. Their substantial £2 million investment in new vehicles, including the introduction of their first electric coach, underscores Citylink's commitment to sustainable transportation. Noteworthy growth has also been seen in long-standing services, with a 17% rise in patronage on Saltire Cross routes and an 18% increase on the 900 Service.
Edinburgh Trams also triumphed by winning the highly competitive Transport Team / Partnership of the Year award for their exceptional work on the Newhaven extension. Their commitment to delivering the project on time, on budget, and with safety as a priority has significantly enhanced the city's connectivity and sustainability. The results are clear, with customer numbers doubling in the past year.
Glasgow City Council received recognition for their outstanding achievements in urban planning and transportation. They were honoured with awards for Excellence in Walking and Public Realm & Cycling for their East City Way Phases 6 & 7, as well as Best Practice in Travel to School and Work Schemes for their STARS School Travel and Road Safety project. These accolades showcase the council's commitment to creating safer and more accessible routes for both pedestrians and cyclists.
AmcoGiffen's exceptional delivery of the Civils Asset Management Framework for Network Rail earns them the title of Rail Supplier of the Year, as endorsed by Scotland's Railway. Their strategic locations and reliable 24/7 service have proven instrumental in maintaining the safety and functionality of Scotland's railway infrastructure. In the past two years alone, they've handled over 500 emergency callouts.
In 2023, Glasgow Airport continued to thrive, receiving the prestigious Airport of the Year award for the second consecutive year. Noteworthy achievements included the reintroduction of Scotland's only A380 service, the launch of new flight routes, and the implementation of sustainability initiatives like the Connected Airport Living Lab and a solar farm project. Passengers also enjoyed improved dining options and service enhancements, enhancing their overall travel experience.
Xplore Dundee Bus driver, Mohammad Ramzan, also known as 'Uncle Ramzan,' was honoured with the Frontline Employee of the Year award by Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop MSP. With 46 years of dedicated service behind him, his passion for driving buses and commitment to customer service have made him an invaluable asset. His friendly demeanour and sense of humour have endeared him to both passengers and colleagues alike. Notably, his efforts in the recruitment campaign have significantly boosted applications, highlighting the promising career opportunities within the company.
Commendations in this category were awarded to:-
• John MacDonald, Caledonian MacBrayne
• John Fry, First Bus Scotland
• Kian Greene, McGill's Bus Service Ltd
• Kary-Ann McGregor, McGill's Bus Service Ltd
• Colin Hunter, Stagecoach East Scotland
Full list of winners and commendations
1. Most Effective Road Safety, Traffic Management & Enforcement (sponsored by First Bus)
Winner: South Lanarkshire Council: Road Safety Programme
2. Excellence in Walking, Public Realm, Cycling
Winner: Glasgow City Council - East City Way Phases 6 & 7
Commended: NG Homes and Cycling Scotland: Supporting social housing tenants to travel by bike
3. Best Practice in Travel to School and Work Schemes
Winner: Glasgow City Council: STARS School Travel and Road Safety
4. Excellence in Transport Accessibility
Winner: HITRANS: Go-Hi and Motability Mobility Credit Pilot
Commended: Badenoch & Strathspey Community ConnXions
5. Excellence in Travel Information and Marketing
Winner: First Bus: Under 22s 'Free to Explore' Campaign
Commended: Stagecoach Scotland: "Bussed It, Bossed It" youth campaign
6. Excellence in Technology and Innovation
Winner: Fugro: RILA® Survey of Scotland Rail
7. Best Bus Service
Winner: Glenfarg Community Transport Group: The 55 Bus
Commeded: Stagecoach East Scotland: Fife to Edinburgh Airport on JET747
8. Contribution to Sustainable Transport
Winner: Aberdeen City Council: Aberdeen City Centre Bus Priority Measures
9. Transport Team / Partnership of the Year
Winner: Edinburgh Trams: Trams to Newhaven
Commended: HITRANS: HI-BIKE
10. Most Innovative Transport Project of the Year (Sponsored by Avanti)
Winner: Aberdeen International Airport: Project CAELUS
11. Airport of the Year
Winner: Glasgow Airport
12. Rail Supplier of the Year
Winner: AmcoGiffen: NR Civils Asset Management - Emergency and Reactive Works
13. Excellence in Transport Design
Winner: City of Edinburgh Council: City Centre West to East Link and Street Improvements Project
Commended: Story Contracting: Burton Underpass & Sensory Garden
14. Excellence in Transport Planning
Winner: City of Edinburgh Council: Edinburgh's City Mobility Plan and Our Future Streets
15. Outstanding contribution to Transport
Hannah Ross, City of Edinburgh Council
16. Outstanding contribution to Transport
Daisy Naryanan MBE
17. Lifetime contribution to Transport
Ralph Roberts, Chief Executive, McGills
18. Frontline Employee of the Year
Winner: Mohammad Ramzan, McGill's Bus Service Ltd
Commend: John MacDonald, Caledonian MacBrayne; John Fry, First Bus Scotland; Kian Greene, McGill's Bus Service Ltd; Kary-Ann McGregor, McGill's Bus Service Ltd; Colin Hunter, Stagecoach East Scotland
19. Public Transport Operator of the Year
Winner: Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
20. Transport Local Authority of the Year
Winner: Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
Notes to editors
1. The Scottish Transport Awards are organised by Transport Times Events Ltd, supported by the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, Network Rail, Scotland's Railway, CPT Scotland, RIA Scotland and Passenger Transport magazine.
2. The awards were judged by:
- Alison Irvine, Chair of the Judging Panel & Interim Chief Executive, Transport Scotland
- Dr George Hazel OBE, Director, George Hazel Consultancy
- Prof Iain Docherty, Dean, Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Stirling
- Bettina Sizeland, Director of Bus, Accessibility and Active Travel, Transport Scotland
- Daisy Narayanan MBE, Director of Public Realm, The Crown Estate
- Robert Jack, Managing Editor, Passenger Transport
3. The full shortlist can be found here
