Award Categories
We welcome entries from across the rail industry, its supply chain and its stakeholders. Under each category heading, further detail is provided on who should enter. Generally, entries should be submitted by the client, operator or main contractor/designer (where relevant); but every entry should list all the major parties involved.
Entrants should consider carefully the most relevant category for their entry, although the judges have discretion to reallocate to a different category. Duplicate or broadly similar entries should not be made to more than one category, as this will not increase the chance of an award.
Accessibility Achievement of the Year
The panel is looking for entries that can demonstrate a tangible achievement in improving accessibility on the rail network.
Entries can cover a range of aspects regarding accessibility, including but not limited to, accessibility for wheelchair users, those with vision or hearing loss, persons with limited mobility as well as neurodivergent people and more.
Who should enter?
The award is open to railway undertakings across Light Rail, Tram, Metro, Underground and main line Railway Operators.
The judges will take a range of factors into account; below are the key factors being looked for:
- Has there been a measurable or otherwise demonstrable benefit to passengers with accessibility needs?
- Can you demonstrate where the initiative has gone above and beyond the minimum legal requirements regarding accessibility?
- Has the initiative resulted in an increase in the number of passengers requiring assistance using the railway and/or reduced the number of assistance failures?
- Can you demonstrate that the initiative has drawn directly on the needs of disabled people (such as through accessibility panels, collaboration with disabled charities or advocacy groups etc) and taken into account the diversity of those needs?
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. If only partial completion was achieved during this period, please outline the benefits delivered during this time period.
Customer Service Excellence
This award recognizes top class service for customers of all suppliers of railway services, where an organisation shows flexibility, responsibility, and a clear focus on quality of delivery that sets a new standard to deliver customer satisfaction, and which sets ambitions for the future that the industry will follow.
It could acknowledge a particular creative solution, in any part of the railway supply chain, developed by an organisation or team that has vastly improved customer experience, including safety, during the course of the year.
Entries could include, for example, new and innovative ticketing systems, improved customer information, or a new initiative that improves the experience for passenger or freight customers or particular passenger groups, such as passengers with a disability or impaired mobility.
Who should enter?
Entries may come from train, metro and light rail operators, government (e.g. Transport for London, Transport Scotland or Nexus), customers or customer groups, or from other companies, including Network Rail, whose activities have a direct effect on customers.
The information which the judges would expect to see to be considered in support of your entry should include:
- A reference to the entry criteria and note the key things we are looking for.
- The date of operational implementation or operation of the entry. If only partial implementation of all elements of the entry was achieved within the 12 months to 31st March 2026, outline what benefits have been delivered by those elements of the scheme that became operational in 2025-2026.
- Where possible please provide an outline of the business case or benefits of the entry. The judges will be looking for information such as:
- A demonstration, with supporting evidence (preferably insight based), on how you have made a lasting difference for passengers or how you delivered a customer focussed approach to a problem or event.
- What was done and why? What was the goal?
- What was the problem you were trying to solve?
- What other options were considered?
- Whose idea was this initiative? Where did it come from? Who drove making it happen?
- A demonstration of how other operators could adopt your best practice and/or how it could be utilised across the wider rail business?
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
Environmental Excellence
Rail has a vital role to play in decarbonising our economy and minimising our environmental impacts. With strong green credentials we are currently a low carbon choice, however with the race to net zero and an increase in extreme weather events we are losing our advantage. A commitment to long-term environmental sustainability should be considered as essential for all involved in the future of the railway.
To be considered for this category, a business must look beyond its immediate needs and show leadership in the way it protects the needs of the business, environment, society and future generations.
Who should enter?
Entries should come from any business within the railway sector focused on one or more of the following key environmental impact areas:
- Deliver a class leading environmentally sustainable railway, that has a clear path to zero carbon and continuous improvement in all its environmental impacts.
- Demonstrate significant level of ambition to lead industry in key area of environmental impact – such as decarbonisation, improving air quality, biodiversity gain or circular economy
- Initiatives that are innovative or delivered ambitious results in addressing railway environmental impacts e.g decarbonisation, climate emergency, air quality, biodiversity or circular economy.
- Use of innovative materials that could deliver significant improvements in using resources in the railway.
The judges will take a range of factors into account. However, the following are particularly relevant:
- Evidence of a measurable reduction / improvement
- Clear plan to deliver ambition, with demonstrable buy-in from organisational leadership and stakeholders, and specific investment plans and milestones
- Clear evidence of existing achievement and leadership as foundation to deliver ambition
- Will the initiative have a long-term effect by improving environmental impacts, or is there only a short-term impact?
- Is the initiative being picked up in other parts of the railway? Can it be adopted by others and how are you promoting it?
- Whether the approach is transferable and scalable across the railway and the transport system.
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Fleet Achievement of the Year
The purpose of this award is to highlight and reward excellence in train engineering and management covering the whole fleet in both the passenger and freight sectors. Past winners in the fleet category have come from fleet maintenance, from refurbishment/improvement projects, as well as the introduction of brand new trains or excellent fleet management. Entries should evidence positive customer reaction, with related safety, accessibility and performance improvements.
Who should enter?
Entries can be submitted by anyone involved in keeping trains running or introducing new fleets, from manufacturers, operators, fleet managers, depots, and fleet owners including RoSCos.
The judges will be looking for clear evidence of true innovation and its positive impact on the running and effectiveness of the railways. They will consider the following:
- What logistical or engineering challenges had to be overcome?
- What customer benefits have been delivered and how will these be sustained?
- What customer satisfaction measures support the entry?
- Have technical and financial targets been met or exceeded?
- What is the impact on service reliability?
- What has been delivered in terms of safety and value for money?
- What new standards or innovations have been delivered for others to follow?
- Entries should include a clear quantification of all benefits claimed (business efficiency/effectiveness customer service/experience etc.).
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
Freight & Logistics Achievement of the Year
This is a broadly-based award which seeks to recognise a major new contribution to the rail freight sector, including freight handling logistics. Entries might relate to a specific initiative or to a combination of measures which have enhanced the part that rail plays in freight transport and logistics, both nationally or internationally, or to interventions which create wider network benefits. Such network benefits can be realised within the British rail system by releasing capacity for other users, and/or elsewhere in the transport sector by reducing lorry-miles on the road network, thus also creating environmental and safety gains.
Who should enter?
Relevant entries are invited from all parts of the British rail freight sector, including the infrastructure manager, Network Rail; the freight operating companies; freight terminal providers; port operators; the sector's own equipment supply-chain; and rail freight consignors themselves. Joint entries by partners are welcome and have contributed many outstanding past winners.
Because of the wide scope for inclusion within the category, it is essential for entrants to be able to provide quantified evidence of successful outcomes within the eligibility period.
Examples of relevant points to be referenced within each entry is set out below - provision is made for managing any issues of commercial confidentiality.
The information which the judges would expect to see to be considered in support of your entry should, for example, include:
- Date of completion - State the date of operational implementation in day, month and year format. If only partial implementation of all elements of the entry was achieved within the 12 months to 31 March 2026 outline what benefits have been delivered by those elements of the scheme that became operational in 2025-26.
- Business Case/Benefits Delivered - Where possible provide an outline of the business case or benefits of the entry. The judges will be looking for information such as:
- Whether the entry will achieve or has achieved a net increase in annual domestic rail freight ton-mileage (supported by best/worst case information, identification of traffic gained or growth in market) and/or
- Operational efficiencies that have been or will be delivered which will improve competitiveness and encourage rail freight growth e.g new/improved rolling stock, infrastructure, terminal facilities etc.
- Rail network benefits e.g improved path utilisation, more efficient use of infrastructure, more efficient use of rolling stock etc.
- Any other external benefits, quantified as far as possible, such as reduced lorry miles and carbon emissions, and other environmental benefits including reductions in noise and air pollution
- Where possible please provide any commendations or endorsements from customers, clients or other partners.
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
Great Place to Work
We already celebrate outstanding contributions at the personal level with individual awards; here we are looking to find a great employer. This is vitally important territory at a time when the rail sector is seeking to respond to increasing challenges in both attracting a diverse and skilled workforce, retaining happy, healthy, motivated staff and demonstrating best practise in response to changing technologies and cultures.
Who should enter?
Entries will come from any rail sector business or authority — whether large or small – whether delivering services direct to customers or as part of the railway supply chain. All entries will be expected to set out relevant programmes and initiatives, with evidence of success in staff engagement and development, resulting staff satisfaction levels, improved customer satisfaction and other business performance outcomes.
The winning entry will be from an organisation (or part of an organisation) that has a clear vision, with effective and approachable leadership, and which strongly and passionately supports the development of its whole workforce. It will also be able to explain how its commitment to the health, happiness, success and motivation of its employees, and creation of a more diverse and inclusive workforce, is leading to measurably higher performance levels, higher customer satisfaction and better business results.
Judges will make their assessments – taking account of the organisation’s size and role – based on a range of factors and entrants should address in particular:
- The company culture: What reasons would your employees give if they were recommending your company to potential recruits? Do employees share in the success of your company? Do you organise treats or fun events for your staff? What would your employees say is the best thing about your company? What makes it a fun company to work for? How are employment and business practices and culture and values being implemented?
- Employee engagement: please give evidence of this, including results of surveys and participation in these, and describe measures the company is taking to improve these results. Explain how staff are involved in company strategy and give evidence of the accessibility and involvement of your senior managers.
- Inclusion & diversity: give statistics and detail on workforce diversity and measures to increase this, including gender statistics and progress in increasing women's participation in the company; the gender pay gap, changes in this and measures to address it; menopause support and awareness; ethnic minority participation in the workforce and measures to support this and increase it; support and inclusion for disabled people; and LGBTQ+ inclusion and support.
- Staff development & wellbeing: give details on your company's approach and strategies for staff training and leadership, including mentoring and reverse mentoring, and set out what your company is doing to attract young people to the industry, including apprenticeships. Please also show how you support and improve employees' mental health and well-being, and give statistics on staff turnover, sickness and absenteeism. What are your strategies for reducing absence due to sickness and supporting staff who are signed off work?
Judges will also be interested in whether the approaches adopted and lessons learned are transferable across the wider rail sector.
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
Innovation of the Year
Innovation means finding new ways of doing the job or new technologies that will change the railway. It can involve radical changes in engineering or technology or to business process or to customer service. The scope can be large or small, and come from any part of the supply chain, so long as it delivers clear benefits.
All criteria MUST be met in order to be considered for shortlisting.
Who should enter?
Entries will come from the innovator (or team) or be nominated by the client company.
The judges will be looking for clear evidence of true innovation and its positive impact on the running and effectiveness of the railways. They will consider the following criteria:
- Is the entry a real, radical innovation for the railway industry? Where does the innovation lie on the scale from with “a first ever anywhere in any business” at one extreme to “a first for the British railway” at the other?
- Is it really better, or just different?
- Has anyone noticed the difference?
- Has it improved safety, customer service or value for money? What other benefits has it delivered?
- Are others now copying the idea?
- Entries should include a clear quantification of all benefits claimed (business efficiency/effectiveness customer service/experience etc.).
- Entrants are encouraged to focus on the criteria listed above to maximise their chances of being shortlisted.
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
Major Project of the Year
Open to any major project, costing around £100m or more. (Smaller projects should normally be submitted to other categories which are relevant to their nature and focus.) It may involve trains, infrastructure, signalling, stations, improved customer facilities, new technology. But the project should be self-contained and be substantially complete, or have reached a significant and visible interim milestone, and must have changed and improved the railway for the benefit of users.
Who should enter?
Entries can be submitted by clients, main designers or main contractors, but should identify all the major parties involved in the entry.
The project should be delivering, or expected to deliver, significant quantifiable benefits to the wider economy and community, to railway operations and (most importantly) to passengers or freight customers, whether in terms of performance, customer service, efficiency, or other wider benefits.
Entries should in particular address the following issues, based on quantified evidence:
- Has the project met its original client brief? Were changes introduced during delivery to improve outcomes and if so how was this managed?
- What innovations were incorporated into the project which reduced costs, reduced timescales, improved sustainability outcomes or enhanced user benefits?
- What was the safety record of the project? How does this compare with best practice both in the rail industry and in other sectors?
- Was the project delivered on time and to budget?
- What quantified user benefits were expected and are these being delivered? What assurance can be given about future benefits?
- What lessons have been learned, and how are these being transferred to other projects?
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Outstanding Contribution to Society
Britain's Railway have a key role in contributing to the life of the nation - our passengers, freight customers, communities and our colleagues. In this category we are seeking team entries that demonstrate rail’s economic and social impact, evidencing that the railway is an integral part of the communities it serves.
Who should enter?
Entries should consider any aspects of their business delivery that make a positive impact on social value and could include:
- Using business assets and operations in a way which makes a measurable positive impact on local communities: by improving connections and cohesion; enhancing safety, health and wellbeing; and supporting diversity and inclusion.
- Supporting local economic growth through support for local businesses and SMEs
- Greater emphasis on placemaking: using rail and its assets as a catalyst for regeneration and development that enhances the local environment.
- Deliver a consistent inclusive and accessible rail services to everyone; from customer service to design that is consistent, reliable and easy to engage with; thriving towards “all journeys accessible to all people”
- Increasing passenger and community confidence in using rail; safeguarding passengers, staff and the community, including vulnerable groups – on train, at and around the station
Entries to the Outstanding Contribution to Society (OCTS) category should demonstrate where an organisation or a group of organisations have gone above and beyond in serving the communities that they serve. Each entry should be able to show outcomes in at least 4 of the 6 criteria and show clearly how the entry goes beyond 'business as usual' social value efforts.
Please note that the judges reserve the right to suggest entries made on behalf of individuals are transferred across to the Outstanding Personal Contribution category.
6 criteria:
- Improving connections and cohesion between the rail industry and society
- Enhancing health, safety and wellbeing within the rail environs/safeguarding passengers, staff and communities
- Supporting inclusivity and accessibility
- Supporting local businesses, SMEs, VCSEs (small and medium sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises)
- Acting as a catalyst for regeneration and development
- Evidencing ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) best practice
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
Outstanding Infrastructure Engineering Achievement of the Year
The purpose of the Infrastructure Engineering Award is to recognise an outstanding achievement by those engaged in managing, maintaining or renewing the existing GB railway in order to sustain or improve its condition, capability or reliability.
It is entirely possible that an achievement that saved expenditure or allowed expenditure to be avoided altogether would be considered as an outstanding achievement.
Entries can focus on work involving a particular asset or group of assets, work to a specific location or a wider area programme. The key will be demonstration of the "traditional" engineering value of achieving what is really needed in the most effective manner possible.
Who should enter?
Entries can be submitted by clients, main designers or main contractors, but should identify all the major parties involved in the entry.
The vital criteria, each of which will need to be addressed in the entry, are:
- The benefit for the railway business, both in the immediate and longer term, proportional to the expenditure involved
- The consequential benefit to users, whether people or freight customers
- How the entry achieved a better result than other potential solutions
- The complexity or ingenuity of the engineering decision-making, design or execution needed to achieve the required outcome
- Performance against planned/promised schedules and budget
- The extent of team working between engineers, operators, deliverers and, where applicable, outside parties
- The impact on existing railway users and, where applicable, neighbours during execution
- Railway System and Occupational Health & Safety performance during execution
Please note: The financial size of an entry from large to small is no impediment to the judges' consideration.
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
Outstanding Infrastructure Project of the Year
The purpose of the Infrastructure Project Award is to recognise an outstanding achievement by those engaged in renewing or enhancing existing or creating new elements of the UK railway to sustain or enhance its importance to the economic performance or social worth of the nation.
Entries can focus on work involving a particular asset or group of assets, work to a specific location or a wider programme.
It is expected that projects could range from a few £m to several hundreds of £ms in size; but whatever the cost, key will be a demonstration of the "traditional" engineering value of achieving what is really needed in the most effective manner possible.
Who should enter?
Entries can be submitted by clients, main designers or main contractors, but should identify all the major parties involved in the entry.
The vital criteria, each of which need to be addresses in the entry, are:
- The benefit to the UK, economically and/or socially both in the immediate and longer term, proportional to the expenditure involved
- The benefit to rail users, whether people or freight customers
- How the entry achieved a better result than other potential solutions
- The complexity or ingenuity of the engineering decision-making, design or execution needed to achieve the required outcome
- Performance against planned/promised schedules and budget
- The extent of team working between engineers, operators, deliverers and, where applicable, outside parties including government bodies and commercial partners
- The impact on existing railway users and, where applicable, neighbours during execution
- Railway System and Occupational Health & Safety performance during execution
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
Outstanding Personal Contribution
This category recognises an individual whose personal actions have delivered an exceptional, demonstrable and lasting impact for passengers, colleagues, safety, performance or the wider rail industry.
It is not intended to reward someone simply for being very good at their job. Judges are looking for evidence that the nominee has made a difference that goes beyond what would normally be expected in their role.
Who should enter?
Operational and maintenance managers and front-line staff at any level can be nominated. Nominations should be submitted by line managers, but the nominee must be told that they have been nominated, and why, and be shown a copy of the nomination.
This award is for:
- Individuals who created tangible change
- People who stepped up when it mattered
- Those who delivered results that wouldn't have happened without them
This award is not for:
- People simply doing their job well
- Popular or well-liked colleagues without evidence of impact
- General team performance or long service
Entries will need to show that the nominee has promoted a positive image for railways and made a significant difference for railway users. The judges will interview nominees. They will be looking in particular at the following:
- What problem, challenge or opportunity did this person take on?
- What did the nominee personally do?
- What changed as a result?
- Why was this contribution outstanding?
- What is the lasting value?
Shortlisted nominees will be interviewed by the judging panel, and the manager making the nomination should attend the meeting to provide support.
The judges will separately make an award for a senior figure in the industry, for which no entries will be required.
Please be aware that being an Outstanding Personal Contribution finalists does not entitle you to a complimentary award ticket. These can be purchased via the booking system or through your company.
The Period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Outstanding Teamwork Award
The modern railway depends on excellent teamwork within and across companies and organisations. The winning entry will demonstrate top class teamwork which shows passion and creativity and delivers innovative ways of working that bring clear benefits to customers which can be extended to the railway as a whole. All criteria MUST be met in order to be considered for shortlisting.
Who should enter?
Entries can cover any railway-related activity during the year, and may be submitted by team members, team leaders, managers or customers. Teamwork, rather than just a group of individuals working together, will be the telling factor.
The judges will be looking at a range of factors including the following:
- The scale of the challenge the team has met
- How fresh thinking and changes in behaviour were generated, within and across organisational boundaries
- The composition of the team showing how its members have gone beyond normal business practice to deliver outstanding teamwork
- What lasting benefit the new approach offers for railway users
- How the initiative has improved safety and value for money
- The entries should give quantified evidence in support of these criteria.
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
Passenger Operator of the Year
The key criterion for this award is operational excellence that has had a demonstrably positive impact on the passenger.
The award is open to Underground, Metro, Light Rail and Tram Operators as well as main line train operating companies.
Who should enter?
Entries will come from operators.
Judges will be looking for quantifiable evidence of success in the following areas:
- Customer Service
- Punctuality and reliability
- Safety achievement
- Excellent communication with passengers
- Wider aspects of good customer service, including the management of disruption, overcoming historical problems and value for money
- Transferability across the railway.
- Evidence from delighted customers will have a strong influence on the judges’ decision.
- Entrants are strongly encouraged to focus on the above criteria in their entry to maximise their chances of success
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
Railway 200 Event of the Year (NEW FOR 2026)
Railway 200 has been hugely successful, so this year we have an NRA category to recognise the best work that played such a part in that success. This is a special one-off category for 2026 only.
Who can enter?
Open to individuals, organisations and companies who can demonstrate how they made a difference in bringing Railway 200 to a wider audience and contributed to the superb results in what was a memorable year in railway history.
Safety Achievement of the Year
Safety has always been high on public and political agendas - and rightly so. This award encompasses all aspects of safety, including the safety of staff, passengers and the public. Although a single action relating to an event could win the award, a successful entry is more likely to recognise a change that influences safety for years to come. It is not simply a question of resources, but about showing a really effective determination to run the safest possible railway.
Who should enter?
Entries may come from any team, company or organisation involved in the rail industry, including the supply chain, but all entries should show a tangible achievement in improving safety on the rail network. Merely implementing any new legislative or other requirement will not score highly, unless the entry illustrates a particularly imaginative way of meeting or exceeding the requirement.
The judges will take a range of factors into account. However, the following are particularly relevant:
- Has there been a measurable reduction in incidents or ‘precursor events’ or severity of effects? Or does the entry show that risk has been reduced by the initiative?
- Will the initiative have a long-term effect by improving safety, or is there only a short-term effect?
- Is the initiative being picked up in other parts of the railway? Can it be adopted by others and how are you promoting it?
- What innovation does the entry demonstrate?
- Show its value for money benefits.
- In support of the above provide tangible evidence on each of the criteria.
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
Station of the Year - Small, Medium, Large
Stations were divided into three sections for judging – small, medium, large termini.
Nominations are invited for each category from Train Operating Companies, Network Rail and Community Rail Partnerships. The judges may also add their own nominations.
Who should enter?
You are encouraged to enter your best two stations for each of the Small, Medium and Large categories. You can enter more stations if you wish, but please do check that your chosen stations will be in top form for a judging visit between April and June and are potentially award-winning stations. (Please note: Stations in poor physical condition, or stations where construction or restoration is clearly still work in progress and still under scaffolding for example, should not be entered)
There is no presentation required for this category - just send in the names of your chosen stations. We do however ask that a senior manager in your company signs off your final selection to avoid inappropriate entries and wasted effort on all sides.
All stations entered for these awards will be visited and judged against a common set of criteria including access, information, ticketing, customer-service, disabled access, presentation and special features (eg links to local communities; gardens, flowers etc). Particular emphasis will be placed on initiative and innovation.
The period covered by each award is 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026