Step forward North West’s 2005 bus driver idol

Sally Ontanon-Ormond from Llanrwst has scooped the prestigious2005 Bus Driver Idol for Arriva North West and Wales.

Sally, who is based at the company's Llandudno Junction garage,was nominated by customers who called the Arriva competitionhotline last month. She was nominated for her smooth driving andfor being so cheerful, polite and courteous. One caller also saidit was like 'being a dream to be on her bus'. She was also praisedfor helping wheelchair users and prams onto the bus and haspreviously received a commendation from the civic council.

The decision to make Sally the Bus Driver Idol was made by ajudging panel at Arriva North West and Wales and was based on themany calls received from satisfied customers.

Sally said:

I am very proud to be the winner of this year's ArrivaBus Driver Idol. I would like to say a big thank you to all thecustomers who called in and nominated me.

Nick Gordon, marketing manager at Arriva North West and Wales,said:

We're very pleased to make Sally our Bus Idol for 2005but we mustn't forget all of the other drivers who were nominated.We were staggered, not only by the number of calls we received butalso by the complimentary comments given and we will beindividually recognising each of the drivers who werenominated.

Bus Driver Idol has been extremely successful onceagain this year, and proves just how popular our drivers are withour customers. It's always good to hear how our customers feel andwe'd like to thank everyone who made a nomination.

Note to editors

• The Bus Driver Idol contest is part of the ongoing Arriva'Going your way' campaign to encourage people to think again thejourneys they make and whether they could be made more convenientlyby bus. Arriva will be distributing 'Little Books of bus travel'– with money-off vouchers and information about local busservices – to thousands of households along key bus routes in thisarea next month.
• Arriva is one of the largest private sector providers ofpassenger transport in mainland Europe. Employing more than 30,000people and providing more than one billion passenger journeys everyyear.
• Arriva provides transport services including buses, trains,commuter coaches and water buses in eight European countries –Denmark, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Swedenand the UK.
• Arriva is the largest private bus operator in Italy, Denmarkand the Netherlands and is London's largest operator. Arriva wasthe first private company to be awarded rail contracts inDenmark.
• In the last five years, the turnover of Arriva's mainlandEuropean operations has increased by more than 250 per cent to£514.8 million (Euro €757.9 million).