2026 Shortlist
We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the 28th Rail Business Awards! Congratulations to all our finalists!
A huge thank you to all those who have submitted entries this year and to our fantastic judging panel.
Book your tickets for the awards today to find out who the winners will be, taking place on Thursday 19th February 2026 at The Manchester Deansgate Hotel
The Richard Hope winner along with the coveted Rail Business of the Year Award will be announced on the night.
2
Accessibility & Integrated Transport Excellence
Great Western Railway, Enhancing Customer Experience and Sustainability through Multi-Modal Travel
South Western Railway, Signapse
3
Digital Innovation & Signalling Excellence
East Coast Digital Programme, Signals Away on the Northern City Line
HaslerRail & GTSR, MyDrive
South Eastern Railway, Smart trainborne technology
7
Diversity & Inclusion in Rail
Alstom and Journey, World’s first Pride parade on a train
AtkinsRéalis, Different Makes a Difference
Avanti West Coast, Together We Roll
Hull Trains, Diversity and Inclusion
London Northwestern & West Midlands Railways, Championing an inclusive workforce
Lumo, Purple Tuesday
Northern, Making Northern a great place to work for everyone
4
Industry Leader
Ben Goodwin, Alstom
Andy Mellors, Avanti West Coast
Abu Siddeeq, c2c Railway
Chris Jackson, TransPennine Express
5
Infrastructure Project & Station Excellence
East Midlands Railway, Etches Park Infrastructure Upgrade (EPIU) Project
East West Rail Alliance, East West Rail Phase 2
Nexus & Kier, Whitley Bay Station Restoration
South Western Railway, Richmond Station heritage refurbishment
Translink, Belfast Grand Central Station – A Landmark in Architecture, Connectivity, and Community
5
Innovation of the Year
Great Western Railway, the 200-mile battery train run
Network Rail, Rail Delivery Group and SilverRail Technologies, Engineering Sales Suppression
Rail Delivery Group and Black Box Partnerships, Project Pluto Programme Team
Transmission Dynamics, Eliminating Overhead Line Failures with AI-Powered Intervention
Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions x Severn Valley Railway, HydroShunter
7
Marketing & Communications Excellence
Alstom, The Greatest Gathering
Avanti West Coast, Safety Thirst
East Midlands Railway, Miles Epic Adventure
Greater Anglia, UNLONDON
Lumo, Marketing & Communications excellence
Translink, Imagine Where You Can Go
Transport for Wales, TfW First Class x James Sommerin
7
Rail Team of the Year
Alstom
East West Rail Alliance
Nexus and Kier
Northern
Southeastern
Stadler Rail Service UK
Translink
3
Regional Initiative of the Year
Northern, Increasing capacity on the West Yorkshire Triangle
Northern, The reopening of the Northumberland Line
South Western Railway, Try the Train with the Senior Saints – South Western Railway x Saints Foundation
3
Safety & Security Excellence
Avanti West Coast, Avanti West Coast partnership with Amulet
Great Western Railway, Resilient Futures, The Bridgwater Safeguarding Response
Stadler Rail Service UK, Behavioural Safety programme
5
Skills Development Excellence
c2c Railway, the c2c Leadership Development Platform
East Midlands Railway, EMR’s Apprenticeship Coach Team
London Northwestern & West Midlands Railways, Paving the Way for the Next Generation of Rail Workers
South Western Railway, LEAP (Leading Excellence and Performance)
Southeastern, Skills Development Excellence
3
Supplier & Contractor Excellence
OCS Group and Alstom - Train Presentation Partnership
The chartered Institution of Railway Operators and Rail Delivery Group - The Traincrew Management Training Programme Pilot
Zonegreen - DPPS Installation at Heaton depot
5
Sustainability & Environmental Excellence
Dura Composites, Sustainability & Environmental excellence
Greater Anglia, Greater Anglia Sustainability and Environmental Excellence
Henry Boot Construction, Barnetby Maintenance Delivery Unit
South Western Railway, improved carbon data modelling
Southern Renewals Enterprise, Pioneering Sustainability in UK Rail Infrastructure
4
Train Operator of the Year
c2c Railway
Greater Anglia
London Northwestern & West Midlands Railway
Southeastern
2
Wellbeing in Rail
TransPennine Express
Avanti West Coast
6
Young Professional of the Year