Go Ahead Group

Go-Ahead Group's bus companies are setting the pace for the prestigious UK Bus Awards this year, topping the shortlist with an impressive 20 entries.

The shortlist includes representatives from virtually all sectors of the bus industry, and Go-Ahead is followed by Stagecoach with 13 places, Arriva with 10 and FirstGroup with nine. Other groups, independents and municipal operators also feature strongly, reflecting the diversity in the industry.

The list contains more than 90 people, projects and organisations from around the country, selected by the judges from over 270 nominations to go forward to the final stages, including mystery traveller checks.

Go North East is nominated for Top City Operator, Marketing Initiatives, Marketing Excellence, Innovation and Putting Passengers First

Oxford Bus Company has been shortlisted for Shire Operator of the Year; Express Service Operator of the Year (the airline); Innovation (Transform Oxford, joint with Stagecoach and Oxfordshire County Council) and Bus Driver of the Year (Sharon Harry)

Metrobus has also been shortlisted for Shire Operator of the Year as well as Marketing Excellence: Horsham - getting the basics right; Bus Driver of the Year (John Russell); Bus Depot of the Year for Crawley Depot and the Transport for London Award for London Bus Garage for Orpington.

Bluestar has been shortlisted for Shire Operator of the year and Eureka awards for marketing at Bluestar.

Operations manager Ron Hayes, who works at Brighton and Hove Buses has been shortlisted in the Unsung Heroes Award category.

Konectbus has been shortlisted for Putting Passengers First for Service 8 from Dereham to Norwich

Go-Ahead London has reached the shortlist in two categories - Bus Garage of the Year for Merton and Putney and Top London Bus Driver (Scott Horney and Roy Lamb).

David Brown, Group Chief Executive said: "This is great news for the staff at our bus companies and I am delighted that their dedication and commitment to providing high quality services for our passengers is recognised in this way."

UK Bus Awards chairman John Owen commented: “It has been a bumper year for entries, proving that the industry really is determined to grow and improve.

"The number and quality of entries in this, our 17th year, has made for interesting and lively judging panels. In some cases the scoring was very close indeed - testament to the quality of the nominations. With the standards so high, results are inevitably going to be very close. I wish all the nominees every success at this year’s event in November."

Go Ahead Group

Would be nice to see Citybus on this list next year!