ENTER THE AWARDS
Important Information
Before you submit an entry into the Awards you be required to register. On doing so you will receive an email, please click the link within the email to activate your account. You will then be able to complete your entry.
Return at any point using your login credentials to manage your account and modify your entry up to the closing date.
- To enter the award please complete an entry form and submit any relevant supporting materials.
- Read the description and entry criteria carefully – entries that do not comply may be marked down or rejected.
- Entries are charged at £125+VAT per entry, per category.
The entry deadline is 23:55 on Friday 18 October 2024.
Accessibility & Integrated Transport Excellence
Entries here should highlight excellence in the provision of accessible facilities and services for rail users, both on trains, stations and journey planning, or for improving integration between rail and other modes.
Digital Innovation & Signalling Excellence
Newly introduced for the February 2025 edition, this award will recognise excellence in signalling, train control and related disciplines, with a strong emphasis on digitalisation of legacy technologies.
Diversity & Inclusion in Rail
Fairly or not, the rail sector is all too often regarded as ‘pale, male and stale’. This award is intended to recognise efforts to improve gender balance, diversity and inclusion within the UK rail sector, emphasising the case for equality across the industry.
Industry Leader
For the most outstanding industry leader within the UK rail sector.
This award is by nomination from the judging panel, although recommendations are invited. Such nominations should include a brief explanation of how the nominee meets the category criteria below.
Infrastructure Project & Station Excellence
To recognise the most successful infrastructure or station development or enhancement projects across the UK rail network. Ranging from route modernisation schemes through to route reopenings and station construction, renovation or relocation, this category should showcase the best in upgrading the fixed assets on the national network or urban rail systems.
Innovation of the Year
To recognise the development of innovative technology, products, systems or services for the UK rail sector, including (but not limited to) the use of digital technologies.
Marketing & Communications Excellence
Communication is key to growing rail use and retaining existing customers, as well as shaping wider perception of the industry among the public and policymakers. This award covers successful marketing campaigns and external or internal communications initiatives.
Network Resilience & Maintenance Excellence
This category seeks excellence in the management and maintenance of rolling stock or infrastructure assets across the UK rail sector. A particular focus should go to projects which support the physical and digital resilience of the railway network in the context of an increasingly volatile climate and growing external risks to operations.
Rail Freight & Logistics Excellence
The rail freight excellence award captures how this segment of the industry directly supports the UK’s wider economic growth, highlighting the best examples of rail boosting sustainable logistics chains across the country. It covers the development, planning and delivery of rail-based freight and logistics services in the UK.
Eligibility: This category is open to any business or other organisation operating within the UK’s rail freight sector, including train and terminal operators, logistics companies and supply chain or forwarding agents.
Rail Team of the Year
An award for the most outstanding team working within the UK rail industry. Partnership, collaboration, alliance-building and the accomplishment of shared goals are at the heart of this category’s criteria.
Eligibility: This award is for any team providing functions relating to rail business management, development or service delivery, whether customer-facing or behind the scenes.
Regional Initiative of the Year
This award recognises successful initiatives to improve the provision of rail or metro services to regional cities or on behalf of devolved administrations in any part of the UK.
Eligibility: This category is open to any organisation involved in the delivery of services to rail users, including passenger and freight train operators, local authorities, developers, infrastructure service providers and station or terminal owners or operators.
Richard Hope Award
To recognise an Outstanding Personal Contribution from anyone employed in the UK rail sector, whether over many years, or for a noteworthy initiative.
Safety & Security Excellence
Safety must remain at the heart of everything that we do in the rail industry. This category aims to recognise successful safety, security or cybersecurity initiatives within the UK rail sector.
Skills Development Excellence
This category recognises any company or organisation in the UK rail sector putting training and development at the heart of their business. A key focus will be on entries that demonstrate how the industry’s skills shortage is being addressed, and how companies across the sector are upskilling their people to adapt to a changing market.
Supplier & Contractor Excellence
To recognise excellence within the UK rail supply chain, by any company or contractor providing products or services to any part of the UK rail sector. The scope of the category also includes the successful export of UK developed railway products, technology or services around the world.
Sustainability & Environmental Excellence
Our rail, metro and light rail systems require investment, but that investment must be delivered in a fashion that meets the highest standards of environmental sustainability. This category is open to projects, programmes and initiatives that showcase how rail and metro operators and asset owners can contribute to realising the UK’s net zero goals, thereby boosting the industry’s already strong green credentials.
Train Operator of the Year
This award recognises the UK passenger or freight train operator demonstrating overall business excellence and providing outstanding customer service.
Wellbeing in Rail
To recognise efforts to improve mental or physical health and wellbeing across the UK rail sector.
Young Professional of the Year
For the most outstanding young professional working within the UK rail industry.
Eligibility: A professional under the age of 35 as at 31/12/24 (DOB to be stated on entry). This award is for excellence in any functions relating to the management or operation of a business in the UK rail sector.