Stagecoach East Scotland Recognised at Top Coach Industry Awards

Stagecoach has been recognised with numerous honours at the 2018 UK Coach Awards.

Stagecoach East Scotland scooped the silver award in the Making Coaches a Better Choice category for its Express City Connect network of services at the 10th annual event held in Blackpool last week (Thursday10 May).

Stagecoach East Scotland’s Express City Connect network operates high-quality coach services across Fife and into Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow. Facilities such as leather seats, on board toilets, power sockets, air conditioning, activity packs for kids and free wifi have helped make the services an attractive alternative to the car, achieving increased passenger numbers.

The company also picked up bronze in the Coach Marketing Award category for the Express City Connect campaigns which have targeted commuters, visitors and students. Megabus.com picked up the silver award in the same category.

The transport group’s Scottish Citylink business, which is a joint venture with international transport group ComfortDelGro, was awarded the Top Express Operation of the Year award for the Service 900 in Central Scotland, an accolade which has been held by Stagecoach East Scotland's Express City Connect services for the last three years.

Scottish Citylink rounded off their successful evening taking the silver award in the Innovation Award category for the roll out of contactless payments on its services.

Paul Thomas, Managing Director Stagecoach East Scot said: “These awards are a real testament to our staff’s continued commitment to providing an excellent service in East Scotland and it’s great to see our local team rewarded.”

“We continue to invest in coach improvements for our customers and we hope that this constant development will allow us the chance to attend the event next year!”

“It was a great evening for Stagecoach with a range of our coach services being recognised for leading the way in the industry. It’s important for us to be continually improving the service we offer to our passengers and for our projects and employees to be recognised is excellent.”

The UK Coach Awards recognises the dedication and professionalism of individuals and operators across the UK coach industry, with awards covering a number categories.

Congratulating all the winners, UK Coach Awards chairman John Gilbert said: "Our awards are all about recognising and rewarding excellence at all levels in the industry, amongst all operators, large or small, and in all types of work from express through contracting to coach touring.

“Coaching is above all a people business. In order to deliver the improved quality and high standards that our customers demand, we need to recruit train and retain excellent staff. Recognising and rewarding our people is vital to retaining and motivating them. We at UK Coach Awards aim to do precisely that, which is why we have such an important part to play in the drive for quality and excellence in our industry.”