2nd November 2006

~ Metroline team wins ‘London Customer Service Champion’ at the UK Bus Awards 2006 ~

On Wednesday 1st November, Metroline’s night bus team won the Transport for London ‘Customer Service Champion of the Year’ at the UK Bus Awards, held at the prestigious London Hilton Hotel on Park Lane.

The award is for front line staff and is given to an individual or team that has delivered outstanding customer service in the last year. Since it's beginning in 2003, the team of Metroline Night Bus Supervisors has been instrumental in improving the quality of service on the company's night bus routes. They have consistently delivered and sustained high standards to Metroline, the largest single provider of night bus services in London.

The team, comprising Colin Hudnott, Patrick Dignam and Ron Tagg, have maintained a level of service which has frequently topped the Transport for London league tables. This has been achieved by promoting and developing a team culture among all colleagues involved in providing night bus services throughout Metroline.

Colin Hudnott attended the event and accepted the award on behalf of the team. Colin has worked for London Buses for 30 years and is one of Metroline's most senior supervisors. He recently stepped down from his role in night bus supervision and has gone part time as a prelude to retirement from the company.

This is the second consecutive year that Metroline has won the award. In 2005, Edgware driver Mark Knowles took home the trophy for his courageous act when one of his passengers was set alight on the bus.

Sean O'Shea, Chief Operating Officer of Metroline, said, "I am delighted at the team's success and would like to congratulate Colin, Patrick and Ron on their achievement. This is fantastic recognition of the work they undertake. The success of our night bus services would not be possible without the efforts of all staff including drivers and engineers who contribute every day to these vital services. I am especially pleased on behalf of the night bus team as they follow the success of Metroline driver Mark Knowles in last years UK Bus Awards."

Note to editors:
- Photo: from left, Jaspal Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Metroline; Colin Hudnott, Sean O'Shea, Chief Operating Officer of Metroline.
- Metroline is one of the top five London-based bus companies, currently running 13.5% of the capital’s bus services under contract to Transport for London.
- Metroline carries 250 million passengers every year, operates 93 routes, covers over 37.5 million journey miles each year, employs almost 3700 people and runs a fleet of over 1,200 buses in North, West and Central London and South Hertfordshire.
- Metroline is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Singapore based ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited, which is the world's second largest listed land transport company.
- The Bus Industry Awards (BIA) were established in 1996 succeeding the Bus Good Practice Awards, established by the Association of Metropolitan Authorities in 1991. The new awards scheme, dubbed the 'Bus Oscars', is now in its 11th year and its second year as the re-branded 'UK Bus Awards'. For more information see: www.ukbusawards.co.uk

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Enquiries:
For further Metroline enquiries please contact:
Heather Whitbread, Communications Coordinator, Metroline 020 8218 8824