SCOTTISH transport operators have scooped a string of major prizes at a UK-wide awards ceremony.
Lothian Buses was named Bus Operator of the Year while Edinburgh Trams took home Tram Operator of the Year at the 23rd National Transport Awards in London.
Sarah Boyd, chief executive of Lothian Group, was also named Woman of the Year at the ceremony at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge.
The three awards marked a successful night for the capital's transport network, but operators and workers from across Scotland were also recognised.
Pentland Ferries, which operates services between mainland Orkney and Caithness, was named Ferry Operator of the Year.
ScotRail was highly commended in the Rail Operator of the Year category, which was won by Transport for Wales.
The Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) was also highly commended in the John Prescott Regional Transport Authority of the Year category.
Meanwhile, McGill's driver Pummy Hadebe jointly won the Frontline Employee of the Year award after helping a passenger deliver a baby on board her bus.
She shared the prize with Metroline driver Shabir Hassan, who was recognised for taking an injured passenger to hospital following an incident on his service.
The National Transport Awards recognise the work of transport operators, authorities and frontline staff from across the UK.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander addressed the ceremony and congratulated those recognised.
She said: “The National Transport Awards is one of the highlights of the year for the UK transport industry, and I’d like to congratulate all of the winners and nominees, who are representative of the extraordinary work of the sector in communities up and down the country.
“This work has never been more important, and I am incredibly grateful for the efforts of everyone in the sector to meet the challenge of building an integrated transport system that is safe, reliable, and works for the people we serve.”
Elsewhere, Transport for Greater Manchester won the John Prescott Regional Transport Authority of the Year award for its work on the Bee Network as well as the Outstanding Contribution to Net Zero prize.
Transport for Wales also picked up two awards, winning Rail Operator of the Year and Best Practice in Diversity, Inclusivity and Accessibility.
East Midlands Airport was named Airport of the Year.
The judging panel was chaired by former Transport Focus chief executive Anthony Smith and included Commons Transport Committee chair Ruth Cadbury MP and representatives from Women in Transport, Transport Focus and the Urban Transport Group.
