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In New Transit’s inaugural green transport awards, Go-Ahead won three of the six categories and were runner up in the rest. New Transit established the awards to ‘shine a light on the good work that is being done in the public transport sector to make travel greener.’

The Go-Ahead Group, or one of its operating companies, won the following awards:

-             The Go-Ahead Group - The Green Facilities Award for slashing electricity consumption by investing in intelligent lighting at depots.
George Muir, Former Director General of the Association of Train Operating Companies, one of the award judges, commended Go-Ahead: “A good and effective project which has already produced results.”

-             Go-Ahead’s Tyne & Wear based bus company Go North East - The Green Marketing Award for their Red Kite bus brand
Commenting on Go-North East’s award Kulveer Ranger, Director for Transport Policy, Major of London’s Office, one of the award judges remarked: “This stood apart from the other nominees. Red Kite was not just an advertising campaign but a joined-up proposition that increased ridership, boosted revenue, and provided over £1m in economic benefit for the local community, as well as raising awareness of an important local environment issue.”

-             Go-Ahead’s Isle of Wight bus company Southern Vectis - The Green Innovation Award for their Really Green Car Scrappage Scheme
Kulveer Ranger, commented: “An amazingly audacious scheme that looks to be a win-win for all: creating new customers, encouraging mode shift, and taking dirty cars off the road forever.”

Keith Ludeman, Group Chief Executive of Go-Ahead said: “I would like to send my congratulations to all the winners of New Transit’s Environment Awards. Climate Change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today and the UK public transport industry must work together to achieve its full potential in reducing carbon emissions and driving modal shift from private car use to buses and trains.”

“I have been extremely impressed by the way that Go-Ahead’s management teams and people have embraced and taken personal responsibility for addressing carbon reduction in their companies. The exceptional number of winners, runner up and commended companies in New Transit’s environment awards from across the Go-Ahead Group are testament to their commitment, enthusiasm and innovation.”

Go-Ahead was runner up for the following awards:
-             The Go-Ahead Group - Green Operator Award
-             Southern and Southeastern and partners – The Green Fleet Award for their groundbreaking introduction of regenerative breaking on the third rail system.
-             Simon Green, Chief Engineer at Southern for the Green Champion award.

The following Go-Ahead companies were highly commended for the Green Fleet Award:
-             Go Ahead London for its Go-Green programme
-             Oxford Bus Company for Britain's 'greenest' bus fleet

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Notes to editors:

Go-Ahead

Go-Ahead is one of the UK's leading providers of passenger transport services operating in the bus, rail and aviation services sectors. Employing around 27,000 people across the country, around 960 million passenger journeys are undertaken on our services each year.

Our local focus

We believe that public transport is best provided locally. All of our bus and rail companies are locally branded and form an integral part of the communities they serve. We empower our local managers to deliver services to their own markets in the way they best see fit. This local focus and understanding of community needs means we are able to provide high quality services.

Environment & corporate responsibility

Carbon Trust Standard - Go-Ahead is the only UK public transport Group to have been officially certified with the Carbon Trust Standard after taking action on climate change. The Carbon Trust Standard is the UK's only independent certification recognising achievements in action on climate change by leading organisations in industry, commerce and the public sector.

Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)

CDP recently ranked Go-Ahead as the top public transport company in the FTSE 350 in its 2009 survey. The CDP Global 500 report provides the most comprehensive assessment of global data on corporate greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies.

Business in the Community (BITC) 2009

Corporate Responsibility Index - For the third year in a row Go-Ahead achieved a gold rating in this Index, with the highest rating amongst comparable participating transport operators. These awards highlight a company’s commitment to being a responsible employer and public transport operator.

For further information visit www.go-ahead.com