NATIONAL Express is celebrating after driving away with the Transport Team Partnership of the Year title at this year's London Transport awards. The company, which also runs National Express East Anglia train services, received other commendations including a special commendation for Abdul Khan - a bus driver who saved the life of a small child caught in a vicious dog attack.

NATIONAL Express is celebrating after driving away with the Transport Team Partnership of the Year title at this year's London Transport awards.

The company, which also runs National Express East Anglia train services, received other commendations including a special commendation for Abdul Khan - a bus driver who saved the life of a small child caught in a vicious dog attack. National Express East Anglia was shortlisted in the Public Transport Operator of the Year category

National Express is a member of the Heathrow Airport Transport Forum, which scooped the award for Transport Team/ Partnership of the Year for its part in the T5 interchange group.

The partnership was formed in 2003 between National Express, BAA, Transport for London (TfL) and First Group to create a public transport system which would support Terminal 5 (T5) and react to the changing demands of the world's busiest airport.

The partnership's expert advice helped shape the design of T5 and from day one National Express had dedicated coach services operating in and out of the new terminal. The UK's largest coach company now operates 336 journeys at Terminal 5 every day, carrying hundreds of thousands of passengers each year.

National Express was also highly commended in the Frontline Employee of the Year category for the brave actions of a National Express London driver Abdul Khan.

The 43-year-old was about to start work at the company's Beddington depot last October when he witnessed a vicious dog attack upon 20 month old Amir Santos. He bravely led a group of fellow employees to tackle the animal and rescue the baby.

National Express rail business c2c was highly commended in the Transport Team/Partnership of the Year category for its work with the British Transport Police on Operation Shellshock.

The joint operation sought to take a direct approach to dealing with anti-social behaviour and involved a dedicated team of police officers riding on c2c trains, and patrolling known problem areas by the railway in summer 2008.

During this period, there was a large decline in offences including a 91% decrease in graffiti offences and 84% reduction in stone throwing offences.

In addition, c2c and National Express East Anglia were both shortlisted in the Public Transport Operator of the Year category.

Neil Barker, Bus and Coach Director UK, National Express said: “This success demonstrates that National Express continues to be at the forefront of the transport industry in providing excellent customer services and I would like to congratulate our employees for their dedication and professionalism.”