Merseytravel enjoyed a double celebration at the National Transport Awards on Thursday (8th October) as it came out on top in the Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) of the Year and Ferry Operator of the Year categories.
The National Transport Awards bring together the people making a real difference to transport across the UK, attracting over 800 senior transport professionals including Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin MP who gave the keynote address.
In winning the Integrated Transport Authority of the Year award, Merseytravel saw off competition from Transport for Greater Manchester, Centro (West Midlands) and Nexus (North East).
When explaining the reasons for giving the accolade to Merseytravel, the judges cited successes in introducing new tickets and in setting out long-term plans, with Merseytravel’s five-year Transport Plan ‘for Growth taking a new perspective, seeing transport as a driver for economic growth.
They also mentioned success in reducing the cost of bus travel for young people through the introduction of MyTicket as well as the launch of smart ticketing, with Merseyside’s smart ticketing scheme already the most active outside of London.
For the Ferry Operator award, Mersey Ferries came out on top against DFDS Seaways, MBNA Thames Clippers, Calmac, The Cremyll Ferry and Red Funnel Isle Of Wight Ferries. The judges praised the work done to reduce the subsidy, increasing patronage and the innovative partnership with Liverpool Biennial, 1418 NOW and Tate Liverpool on the “Dazzle Ferry”.
As well as the success in the ITA of the Year and Ferry Operator of the Year awards, the MyTicket scheme and Merseyrail were also shortlisted in the Most Innovative Transport Project and Rail Operator of the Year categories respectively.
Liam Robinson, Chair of Merseytravel, said:
“We are delighted to have received such prestigious awards and it is a testament to the hard work put in by the staff at Merseytravel and across the wider Liverpool City Region.
“Although it is great to receive such recognition, it is important that we keep the momentum going and look at how we can push our city region on further. We want to carry on being seen as an innovative region which sees transport as key to economic growth.”
Submit News Contact us with your community, business or sport news. Phone 07581350321
Email ots@otsnews.co.uk
Facebook www.facebook.com/otsnews.co.uk
Twitter www.twitter.com/onthespot_news
Breaking local news as it happens, searchable archives with photographs, the ability to instantly comment on news articles – there are so many advantages to OTS (Onthespot) News.
If you want your news read locally online then send it to ots@otsnews.co.uk – relying only on the newspaper is to restrict yourself to an ever reducing audience.
OTS News on Social Media