Winning Tenders - TOP Transport Award

A major Berkshire bus provider operator is celebrating today after being short listed for a prestigious UK Bus Award. The UK Bus Awards rewards excellence in the bus industry and contenders will find out if they will drive off with a gong at the glittering ceremony in London on 7th November.

First Berkshire has been nominated for the CBS Outdoor Award for Bus Marketing Campaign of the Year. The award is for the operator, local authority or partnership that can show how the spirited use of marketing methods had encouraged more people on to the bus.

Judges were impressed by First Berkshire’s Rainbow Fares initiative - a new, simple approach to marketing coach services linking Windsor, Slough and Bracknell with London. Different fares are charged according to the time of travel, which are easy to understand due to a colour coding system. Vividly branded Rainbow Fares are supported by clear promotional material explaining the colour coded fares charts.

Minister of State for Transport, Rosie Winterton MP, commented: “Bus travel plays an essential role for many people in Berkshire and can have a measurable impact on the quality of an individual’s life.

“The UK Bus Awards is an important event in the transport calendar and I’m delighted that Berkshire is leading the way. It is testament to the hard work that goes on in the area to make bus services more attractive to the public.”

John Owen, Chairman of the UK Bus Awards, commented: “The UK Bus Awards identifies excellence in the bus industry where companies or people have made a real difference. This year we received a record number of entries and their quality is the highest yet. I wish all of the nominees every success at this year’s event.”

www.ukbusawards.co.uk