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October 16, 2003
IRU Eurochallenge awarded to Ghent night bus
Kortrijk - The International Road Transport Union (IRU) is pleased to announce that the Eurochallenge 2003 Award has been awarded to the Flemish operator De Lijn, for its weekend night bus initiative in the Belgian city of Ghent, which provided the city with services on six routes at 45 minute intervals between 23h30 and 02h30 on Friday and Saturday nights, where there had been none before.
The Eurochallenge Award promotes greater use of urban and interurban public transport by bus and coach through cost-effective innovative projects.
Serge Nossovitch, President of the Jury and Vice President of the IRU's EU Passenger Transport Liaison Committee, said: "De Lijn, together with the Flemish Regional Government, the Ghent municipal authorities and private bus operator Van Hoorebeeke have combined to put in place a weekend night bus service which makes cultural and social activities more accessible, relieves pressure on limited parking facilities and provides safe transportation home for people who have consumed alcohol."
More than 12'000 passengers were carried in the first four months of the scheme, equivalent to nearly 45'000 on an annual basis, which is nearly twice the level of demand forecast.
The Eurochallenge jury also commended the UK company Journey Solutions for its "PlusBus" project, which will provide an integrated ticketing system for bus and rail services throughout the UK. Journey Solutions is an independent agency, created and jointly funded by bus and rail operators through their respective Associations, the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT), IRU Member Association, and the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC).
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