Spotlight Rail Awards 2026 Winners

ACTING AS ONE TEAM – INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY

This category recognises large-scale infrastructure projects where collaborative working has been central to success. Entries demonstrate how integrated teams — spanning clients, contractors, and supply chains — have delivered complex programmes through shared goals, trust, and streamlined delivery models.

🏆 Winner: AMEY INFRASTRUCTURE WALES, NETWORK RAIL AND TRANSPORT FOR WALES – CVL Transformation Integration Team

ACTING AS ONE TEAM – CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

This category celebrates collaborative efforts that have directly enhanced the passenger experience. Entries demonstrate how cross-functional teams, frontline staff, and delivery partners have worked together to improve accessibility, service quality, and customer satisfaction.

🏆 Winner: EAST MIDLANDS RAILWAY, GOVIA THAMESLINK RAILWAY, NETWORK RAIL (EAST MIDLANDS) – Christmas 2024 East Midlands delivering for passengers

ACTING AS ONE TEAM – PARTNERSHIP EXCELLENCEThis category highlights entries where the standout achievement is in the way organisations, teams, or sectors have worked together, or in the innovative processes they have developed and applied to deliver better outcomes for the rail industry.

🏆 Winner: SCOTLAND’S RAILWAY DRAINAGE AND LINESIDE – A Story of Transformation, Resilience and Leadership

ASSET MANAGEMENT EXCELLENCERecognising excellence in the stewardship of rail assets, this category highlights innovative, efficient, or sustainable approaches to maintaining and enhancing infrastructure or rolling stock.

🏆 Winner: ENABLE MY TEAM – Network Wide Switches & Crossings (S&C) AI Extraction

BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY – PASSENGER IMPACTFocusing on the passenger experience, this category rewards digital or tech-led solutions that have enhanced accessibility, information, or journey quality.

🏆 Winner: NETWORK RAIL, RAIL DELIVERY GROUP & SILVERRAIL TECHNOLOGIES

COMMITMENT TO SAFETYThis category honours initiatives that have demonstrably improved safety for passengers, staff, or the public — through leadership, innovation, or behavioural change.

🏆 Winner: AMCOGIFFEN – AmcoGiffen and Safety Shield Global – Revolutionising Safety Through the People, Plant Interface (PPI) App

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITYHighlighting social value, this category recognises contributions to communities, education, or the environment that go beyond core business delivery.

🏆 Winner: RSSB, NETWORK RAIL, DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT, GOVIA THAMESLINK, AVANTI, GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY, TRANSPORT FOR WALES & SIEMENS – The Rail Social Value Tool – A Whole Industry Approach to Measuring and Maximising Social Impact

DELIVERING FOR THE CUSTOMERRecognising projects or services that have placed the customer at the heart of delivery — with clear evidence of improved satisfaction, trust, or accessibility.

🏆 Winner: SPENCER RAIL ENGINEERING & WEST MIDLANDS RAILWAY – Tyseley Depot Enhancement Project

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSIONThis category celebrates initiatives that have actively fostered a more inclusive rail sector — whether through recruitment, leadership, or community engagement.

🏆 Winner: SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY – SWR Inclusion and Diversity Strategy

INNOVATIVE ROLLING STOCKThis category showcases innovation in train design, refurbishment, or performance — with benefits for passengers, operators, or the environment.

🏆 Winner: GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY – Battery-Powered Train World-Record Project

NET ZERO PIONEERRecognising leadership in decarbonisation, this category highlights projects that have delivered measurable carbon reductions or enabled greener operations.

🏆 Winner: SIEMENS MOBILITY – A Leap Towards a Sustainable and Digital Rail Future on East Coast Digital Programme

OPERATOR OF THE YEARThis category celebrates an operator that has consistently delivered excellence — in performance, customer service, innovation, and sector leadership.

🏆 Winner: HULL TRAINS

OUTSTANDING PROJECT (OVER £20M)This category recognises major projects that have delivered significant impact with clear benefits for the rail network or its users.

🏆 Winner: AECOM, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL, SLC, NETWORK RAIL, MORGAN SINDALL INFRASTRUCTURE, NORTHERN, SIEMENS – The Northumberland Line

OUTSTANDING PROJECT (UNDER £20m)Celebrating smaller-scale projects with big impact, this category highlights innovation, efficiency, or community benefit.

🏆 Winner: SIEMENS MOBILITY & NETWORK RAIL EAST COAST ROUTE – The York Re-Control Initiative: Setting New Benchmarks for Railway Operations

PRODUCT OF THE YEARRecognising a product that has delivered clear benefits to the rail sector — whether through innovation, cost savings, or improved outcomes.

🏆 Winner: BAM NUTTALL – Dawlish Cliff Stabilisation – Combination Bar

SERVICE OF THE YEARThis category celebrates a service that has made a tangible difference to passengers, freight, or operations — with evidence of reliability, innovation, or customer impact.

🏆 Winner: THINK HIRE – Energy-as-a-Service for Operational Excellence

TRAINING EXCELLENCEHighlighting the importance of skills and development, this category recognises programmes that have upskilled the workforce or supported new entrants into rail.

🏆 Winner: GOVIA THAMESLINK RAILWAY – GTR Apprenticeship Team

VIDEO OF THE YEARThis category celebrates the power of visual storytelling, showcasing how compelling video content can cut through noise, capture attention, and deliver a message with clarity, emotion, and impact.

🏆 Winner: VolkerRail

YOUNG RAIL PROFESSIONALThis category honours an emerging talent whose contribution, leadership, or innovation marks them out as one to watch in the future of rail.

🏆 Winner: Louisa Quarterman – BTTC