19/11/2008

• Three top awards and two runners-up spots for Perth-based transport group
• Stagecoach co-founder Brian Souter honoured for services to the bus industry
• More shortlisted entries than any other UK bus operator

STAGECOACH came out on top with the highest number of honours at the 2008 UK Bus Awards.

The Perth-based transport group scooped three top awards at the 13th annual London ceremony, winning the Bus in the Countryside and Young Manager of the Year categories.

Stagecoach co-founder and Chief Executive Brian Souter was also given a special recognition award for services to the bus industry. Mr Souter founded Stagecoach with his sister Ann Gloag in 1980, with just two buses. Almost 30 years later, the company has become a market leader in delivering greener, smarter travel, with operations in the UK, United States and Canada.

Accepting his award, Mr Souter said: “This is a real honour and I feel very humbled and privileged to be considered for this award. It’s great to be part of this industry and I’m privileged to have been able to make a career out of something that was a hobby and that I really enjoy.”

Stagecoach North West Operations Manager Rob Jones won the Young Manager of the Year award after judges agreed he had added significant value to the future of the company.

After receiving his award, Rob said: “I’m delighted and amazed to have won and I’d like to thank everyone that I work with for all their hard work throughout the past year too.”

Stagecoach in Oxfordshire won the Bus in the Countryside award after achieving passenger growth of over a third in the past year on its Route 20 service. The winning service is to be further improved by the introduction of increased Sunday services from 30 November.

The judges also awarded Stagecoach two runners-up places at the awards. Stagecoach West Scotland was runner-up in the Express Coach Operator of the Year category for its X76/X77 express network, while Stagecoach Yorkshire was s close second in the Integration Award for its Supertram bus link in Sheffield.

In total, Stagecoach had 14 shortlisted entries in the competition's 19 categories this year.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The full list of shortlisted Stagecoach entries was:

• Stagecoach in Warwickshire (The Optare shire Operator of the Year)
• Stagecoach West Scotland X76/77 Express Network (Volvo Express Operation of the Year)
• Stagecoach in Fife Airdirect 747 (BAA Heathrow Award for Integration)
• Stagecoach North West Network Chorley (BAA Heathrow Award for Integration)
• Stagecoach Yorkshire Supertram Link (BAA Heathrow Award for Integration)
• Stagecoach West Scotland The Bio-Bus (Alexander Dennis Innovation Award)
• Stagecoach in Oxfordshire Route 20 (The Bus in the Countryside)
• Stagecoach Goldline (The CBS Outdoor Bus Marketing Campaign of the Year)
• Stagecoach North West – Rob Jones (The Centrebus Young Manager of the Year)
• Stagecoach North East – Jodine Milne (The Centrebus Young Manager of the Year)
• Stagecoach Devon – Tony Simmons (The Centrebus Young Manager of the Year)
• Stagecoach North East – John Page (The Chris Moyes Memorial Award for Customer Service)
• Stagecoach East Scotland – Gordon Watson (The Chris Moyes Memorial Award for Customer Service)
• Stagecoach Oxford – James Wright (The Chris Moyes Memorial Award for Customer Service)

For further information, please contact:

Stagecoach Group
Lindsay Reid, Corporate Communications Manager
T: 01738 442111 / 07500 446896;
E: lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com