National Express celebrate partner operators with awards night
08 April 2019 10:22 AM
Walsall-based Travelstar European was crowned Overall Operator of the Year, as well as Operator of the Year for 6 to 10 vehicles for the fourth-year running.
Craig Jackson, Operations Manager at Travelstar European, said: "We are extremely proud to receive such great recognition from National Express.
“We have an incredible team of people at Travelstar - the administrators, cleaners, engineers and, in particular, the drivers, who go out there and deliver excellence every day. This award is for them.
“To win Operator of the Year for the fourth consecutive year is a huge honour, and we will continue to deliver a better and safer service for our customers".
The Operator of the Year category is based on the company’s engineering standards, the number of miles operated and customers carried, as well as praise and complaints. Winners included Llew Jones who won the title for the one to five vehicles category, Bruce Coaches for 11 to 20 vehicles, and Edwards Coaches Bristol for over 21 vehicles.
The Customer Experience Excellence award – A key priority for the UK’s largest coach operator - went to Go South Coast Poole for excelling in punctuality, communication, and their overall boarding process.
E Stotts & Sons scored a double whammy with the Best Fleet accolade by successfully achieving 100 percent on internal and external vehicle checks, as well as the and Go Green award for minimal vehicle–related incidents.
Meanwhile, Bennetts won the safety award for their commitment to National Express’ Driving out Harm programme, and the Duplications, Festivals & Events award for their contribution to the events business over the past year.
The Gold Standard Achievement – meaning over three consecutive ‘Gold’ statuses for three or more consecutive years – was given to National Express (West Midlands), Bruce Coaches, Travelstar European, Parks of Hamilton, Edwards Coaches Wales, Bennetts Coaches, and E Stott & Sons, while the Golden Spanner awards were presented to a whopping 70 percent of the network for exceeding expectations in engineering.
Chris Hardy, Managing Director at National Express UK Coach said: “We wouldn’t be National Express without our operators. Each and every one of them keeps us on the roads on a daily basis and I am pleased to have this opportunity to recognise their efforts and celebrate them as valued partners.”
