TfGM wins national award for ‘outstanding performance’

Radio and television presenter and National Transport Awards host Jeremy Vine, Deputy Chair of TfGM Committee Cllr Mark Aldred, TfGM Chief Operating Officer Bob Morris, TfGM Chief Executive Dr Jon Lamonte, and Director of Local Transport Policy at the Department for Transport Graham Pendlebury.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has been singled out for praise at the National Transport Awards with a one-off special recognition award.

Chief Executive Dr Jon Lamonte picked up the ‘Judges Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Performance’ at a ceremony attended by over 600 senior transport professionals – including keynote speaker Transport Minister Claire Perry MP.

The award comes in the same week that TfGM gained the ‘Most Improved System’ prize for Metrolink at the Light Rail Awards, along with commendations for the Rochdale and Oldham town centre tram lines and specific engineering elements of the Airport line.

In making the National Transport Award, judges praised TfGM’s contribution to improving transport across Greater Manchester, highlighting record patronage, a reduction in road casualties and major landmark projects delivered ahead of schedule and on budget.

The award also acknowledges progress in key policy areas including passenger satisfaction, value-for-money, rail devolution, high speed rail, sustainable travel and carbon reduction.

Dr Lamonte said: “The Outstanding Achievement category isn’t one that you can choose to enter, so it’s a particular honour that the judges have chosen to give this award to TfGM.

“I’m delighted at this national recognition of the hard work involved in delivering transport initiatives to improve the daily lives of local residents and the overall prosperity of the area.”

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chairman of the TfGM Committee, added: “It’s clear that Greater Manchester is playing an important role in driving national transport policy and leading the way in outstanding transport. This award sends a clear vote of confidence in our abilities and shows the whole country that we can be trusted to deliver.

“I congratulate staff at TfGM for their continuing hard work and enthusiasm to deliver improved public transport for Greater Manchester residents throughout the economic challenges of recent years.”

The judging panel was chaired by Professor David Begg, Chief Executive, Transport Times, and included Graham Pendlebury, Director for Local Transport, DfT, Andy Southern, Managing Director of Transport and Planning at Atkins, Anthony Smith, Chief Executive of Passenger Focus, Stephen Joseph OBE, Executive Director of the Campaign for Better Transport, and Louise Ellman MP, Chair of the Transport Select Committee.