Driving Greatness: Go North East’s Elite Drivers ready to transport Elite Athletes to the Great North Run

As the North East gears up for the 43rd annual Great North Run, the world's largest half marathon, Go North East is proud to mark another year as the official transport partner for the event’s elite athletes. The region’s leading bus operator will ensure that elite runners reach the starting line with ease, thanks to its specially trained team of Elite Drivers.

This year, renowned athletes including Calum Johnson of Gateshead Harriers and Olympian Aly Dixon will be chauffeured by Go North East’s highly skilled drivers. While these athletes will face a grueling 13.1-mile course, their journey to the starting line will be in the comfort of Go North East’s elite team.

Go North East's involvement highlights its ongoing commitment to supporting regional events and communities. For the past seven years, the company has played a vital role in the smooth operation of the Great North Run, transporting both elite athletes and participants, ensuring the event’s continued success.

Elite competitor Calum Johnson, who is aiming for a 63-minute finish time, expressed his appreciation: “Reliable, comfortable transportation to the start line is crucial for us. Go North East’s Elite Drivers provide exactly that with a friendly smile, making us feel relaxed and allowing us to focus on the race ahead without added stress.”

Olympian Aly Dixon, who hopes to complete the race in 80 minutes, echoed these sentiments, adding: “The Great North Run is an iconic event, and it’s fantastic to see local companies like Go North East stepping up to support both the runners and the wider community. Their drivers are truly elite, and they help set the tone for a successful race.”

In addition to its work with elite athletes, Go North East has partnered with South Shields Harriers to promote the use of public transport for the event. Stephanie Pattinson from South Shields Harriers commented: “The Great North Run is a highlight for our community, and using public transport is the most efficient way to navigate the event, especially with road closures and parking restrictions in place.”

To meet high demand on race day, Go North East will deploy 80 additional buses alongside its regular Sunday services. This large-scale operation, supported by the company’s Elite Drivers and engineering team, is designed to keep the region moving, ensuring that athletes, spectators, and participants all reach their destinations safely and on time.

For more information on Go North East’s services during the Great North Run, visit Great North Run 2024 - Go North East.

Interested in becoming part of the team of Elite trained drivers? Go North East is currently recruiting. Apply today!

ENDS.

Notes to editors

Go North East runs a network of bus routes across the North East region including Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, and surrounding areas.

The Go-Ahead Group is one of the UK’s leading providers of public transport, enabling more than a billion passenger journeys each year on its bus and rail services. Go-Ahead places great importance on partnership, adopting a collaborative approach with governments, local communities and strategic partners; developing and operating services that create long-term value for all.

For more information about Go-Ahead Group visit www.go-ahead.com.

Press and media contacts:

Ben Maxfield

Business Director, Go North East

ben.maxfield@gonortheast.co.uk

Telephone: 07890 436531