TUBE trains built in Derby, which have been described by Mayor of London Boris Johnson as "the coolest ride in town", have won a national award for comfort.

The Movia trains, built at Bombardier's Litchurch Lane plant for the London tube network, have been awarded an Ergonomics Design Award.

London Mayor Boris Johnson on board one of Bombardier's new air-conditioned carriages.

The firm, which employs about 3,000 people, was given the accolade by the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors.

Ergonomics is the study of equipment and devices designed to help the human body.

Bombardier was recognised for designing a train that enhanced the passenger experience, with air-conditioned carriages, wide gangways to ease overcrowding and wheelchair provision.

The train-maker was also praised for making the journey more pleasant for the drivers by installing in-cab monitors, a sit/stand workstation and adjustable seats and footrests.

Simon Cran, the manager of industrial design and human factors at Bombardier, said: "Bombardier invested a lot of time and effort to ensure that the travelling environment was a central part of the design process. We were delighted to be given this award, which was true recognition of the work that went into the design."

Bombardier is making 1,395 carriages as part of the Sub-Surface Line contract it was awarded by Transport for London.

Some of the trains started operating on the Metropolitan line in August.

Trains for the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines will start operating on both lines from next year.

The District line will follow in 2013 and all trains will be on the network from 2015.

Eventually, Bombardier's trains will operate on 40% of the Underground network. The ergonomics award was presented to the human factors team at Bombardier.

It was praised for creating a design which showed it had worked closely with London Underground to come up with features that made the trains more comfortable.

Mr Cran said: "The design team not only included human-factor professionals, industrial designers and engineers from Bombardier but the customer, London Underground, was an integral member of the design team. The application of good human-factor processes and practices represents a step change in train design for Bombardier."

Bombardier beat competition from entrants including a recyclable school chair and a skeleton bobsleigh, which was used by the British team in last year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

One of the judges, John Wood, executive chairman of London-based design company CCD, said: "The judges had a challenging task selecting a winner from a strong field."