READING Buses is celebrating after being nominated for a prestigious award.
The company, owned by Reading Borough Council, is a finalist in the passenger transport category of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport excellence awards.
It recognises outstanding achievement in passenger transport by road, rail, water or air. Reading Buses was nominated because of its reaction to the pandemic.
Robert Williams, CEO, is proud of the company’s employees and their achievements.
He said they did everything they could to respond to the challenges of the last two years in the most positive way possible.
“We wanted our customers to feel safe,” he said.
“Covid was the danger, not buses.”
As well as safety measures, such as placing hand sanitiser dispensers on buses, the company are being recognised for other initiatives. They worked with Unite the Union to set up a foodbank for colleagues who were struggling. To help customers who still needed to travel, but not as much as they did pre-covid, the daysaver5 ticket was introduced in November last year. And the entire fleet was upgraded to meets latest emissions standards.
Mr Williams said: “We really care about Reading and we are ready to rebuild after covid.”
Reading Buses is competing for the award against Transport for London and Go North East.
The winners will be announced next year, on Thursday, March 17.
