Nottingham was named Transport City of the Year, pipping Cardiff to the top slot, while Nottingham City Council has been recognised as Transport Local Authority of the Year.

Supported by DfT, Passenger Focus and Transport Times, the 2012 National Transport Awards recognise excellence in delivering sustainable transport solutions for passengers.

For over 10 years Nottingham has been working towards achieving one shared objective: providing a high quality, integrated, attractive and affordable public transport system. The city's successful public transport network now carries 76 million passengers a year.

The city's tram system, which is currently being extended, has contributed to a significant growth in public transport usage since it opened in 2004 and it continues to attract on average 10 million passenger journeys a year.

Cllr Jane Urquhart, Nottingham City Council's portfolio holder for Planning and Transportation, says: "This is fantastic news and well deserved. For years, Nottingham has been ahead of the game prioritising investment in public transport. And it's paid off. With such a high percentage of citizens without access to a car, public transport is key to ensuring that people can get around easily, to their places of work, and to leisure and shopping destinations."

The awards were presented by Patrick McLoughlin MP, Secretary of State for Transport, who said: "It always gives me great satisfaction to see so many hardworking individuals from both the public and private sector rewarded for their commitment and innovation. We are all working in challenging economic circumstances, so it is pleasing that these awards focus on celebrating the positive outcomes still being achieved right across the country."

In addition to the awards that it won, Nottingham was also shortlisted for a further three awards; Most Innovative Transport Project for the Workplace Parking Levy, Improvements to Bus Services and Achievements in Cycling.