This award recognises outstanding apprentices who have made a remarkable impact early in their rail industry careers. Judges will be looking for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional talent, dedication, and commitment to learning.

Example job titles include:

HSEQ Business Partner Apprentice, Apprentice Signalling Designer, Supply Chain Apprentice, Trainee Train Driver, Apprentice Project Manager, Trainee Train Service Manager.

You can see all the past winners here.

This award celebrates individuals or teams in the rail industry who have made a significant contribution to charitable causes. Recognising those who have gone beyond their professional roles, it honours efforts in fundraising, volunteering, and community support. The winner exemplifies how the rail industry can be a force for positive change.

You can see all the past winners here.

This award recognises individuals or teams who deliver exceptional customer service within the rail industry. It celebrates those who consistently go the extra mile to enhance passenger experience, demonstrating professionalism, empathy, and a proactive approach. Whether by assisting customers during challenging situations or ensuring a smooth and enjoyable journey, nominees in this category play a vital role in fostering trust and enhancing the reputation of the rail industry.

Example job titles in this category:

Train Presentation Supervisor, Rail Coordinator, Customer Services Assistant, Oyster Helpline CSA, Training Coordinator, Administrator, Community Relations Manager, Roster Clerk, Planning Manager, Security Operations Manager, On Board Service Manager, Customer Host, Train Manager, Train Guard, Station Officer, Team Leader...

You can see all the past winners here.

This award celebrates the outstanding contributions of station staff who provide exceptional customer service and ensure smooth station operations. Whether through safety, communication, problem-solving, or customer care, nominees in this category make a significant difference in passengers’ journeys. Judges will be looking for individuals or teams who go the extra mile to enhance the travel experience through professionalism, dedication, and teamwork.

Example job titles in this category:

EDI, Advocate, Culture and Engagement Business Partner, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Equality Specialist...

You can see all the past winners here.

This award recognises outstanding recent graduates who have completed a graduate program and are already making significant contributions to the rail industry. The judges will be looking for individuals who embody passion, creativity, and leadership, and demonstrate exceptional talent and innovation.

Example job titles in this category...

Graduate Engineer, Graduate Project Manager, Graduate Electrical Engineer....

You can see all the past winners here.

This award recognises individuals or teams who have made a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of rail industry staff. Whether through mental health initiatives, workplace wellness programs, or proactive safety measures, nominees will have demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting their colleagues. Judges will be looking for those who champion a positive work culture and make a lasting difference in workforce wellbeing.

Example job titles in this category:

Health & Wellbeing Promotions Manager, Health and Wellbeing Partner, Mental health advocate, Incident Care Team Voluntary, Occupational Health technician...

You can see all the past winners here.

This award celebrates outstanding contributions by HR and recruitment professionals in the rail industry. Recognising those who attract, develop, and retain top talent, it honours innovative strategies in talent acquisition, employee development, diversity and inclusion, and workplace wellbeing. Judges will be looking for nominees who have implemented impactful initiatives that create a supportive, inclusive, and thriving work environment.

Example job titles in this category are:

Recruiter, Recruitment Consultant, HR Manager, HR Consultant, HR Assistant, Talent Acquisition, Personnel Manager, Employee Relations, Recruiting Manager, Staffing Resources, Employer Brand Manager, Sourcer, Resourcing, Human Resource...

You can see all the past winners here.

This award celebrates individuals or teams who have introduced groundbreaking innovations or technological advancements in the rail industry. Judges will be looking for initiatives that have improved performance, safety, efficiency, sustainability, or customer experience. Whether in digital signalling, infrastructure, rolling stock, or passenger services, nominees will have demonstrated creativity and impact through their innovations.

You can see all the past winners here.

This award celebrates individuals or teams that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to developing talent within the rail industry. Recognising initiatives that enhance skills, knowledge, and career progression, it honours those who invest in training, mentoring, apprenticeships, and professional growth. Judges will be looking for innovative programs that empower employees and contribute to a highly skilled workforce.

This prestigious award honours individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary courage and quick thinking in saving lives or preventing serious harm within the rail industry. Whether responding to an emergency or taking proactive steps to prevent a tragedy, nominees will have shown exceptional dedication to the safety and well-being of passengers, colleagues, and the public. This award celebrates the heroes of the railway who exemplify bravery, responsibility, and resilience.

Example job titles in this category:

Everyone!

You can see all the past winners here.

This prestigious award honours an individual who has dedicated their career to the rail industry, leaving a lasting impact through their contributions. Whether through pioneering projects, safety improvements, or shaping the industry’s future, the recipient embodies excellence, dedication, and service. This award celebrates a career of remarkable achievements that have influenced colleagues, passengers, and the wider rail community.

Example job titles in this category:

Everyone!

You can see all the past winners here.

This award recognises individuals or teams who have delivered large railway projects exceeding £5 million in value. Judges will be looking for excellence in planning, execution, innovation, and teamwork, celebrating those whose efforts have led to transformational changes in rail infrastructure, operations, or services.

This award celebrates individuals or teams who have successfully delivered projects within the rail industry, with a total value under £5 million. Judges will be looking for excellence in planning, execution, innovation, and teamwork, celebrating those whose efforts have led to transformational changes in rail infrastructure, operations, or services.

This award honours an individual who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to promoting and advancing the rail industry. Established in memory of Tom O’Connor, the founder of Rail Media and the RailStaff Awards, it celebrates those who champion the industry, inspire others, and drive positive change through advocacy and leadership.

Example job titles in this category:

Everyone!

You can see all the past winners here.

This award recognises an exceptional engineer whose expertise, innovation, and problem-solving skills have significantly contributed to the rail industry. Whether in design, maintenance, safety, or project delivery, nominees will have demonstrated technical excellence and a commitment to improving rail infrastructure and services. Judges will be looking for individuals who showcase leadership, creativity, and a passion for advancing railway engineering.

Example job titles in this category:

Lead Fitter, Pway Designer, Fleet Engineer, BSL Signalling Engineer, Signaller, Structure Examiner, Engineering Contracts Director , Senior Surveyor, Senior Project Engineer, Technical Engineer, Construction Management, Chief S&T Engineer, ATME...

You can see all the past winners here.

This award recognises an outstanding manager who demonstrates exceptional leadership, professionalism, and dedication to their team. The ideal nominee goes beyond expectations to support their colleagues, improve performance, and drive excellence in the rail industry.

Example job titles for this category:

Duty Engineering Manager, Section Supervisor, Programme Manager, Customer Service Manager, Area Manager, Station Manager, Train Driver Manager, Retail Audit Manager, Senior Engineering Manager, Customer Delivery Manager...

You can see all the past winners here.

This award recognises individuals or teams working in railway depots who go above and beyond in maintaining, operating, and managing rolling stock, freight services, and depot operations. It celebrates those who ensure trains are safe, reliable, and ready for service, keeping the rail network running efficiently. Nominees may include engineers, technicians, freight coordinators, depot managers, or any team member whose dedication, problem-solving skills, and teamwork contribute to the seamless functioning of rail services.

Example job titles in this category:

Section Planner, Operations Supervisor, Regional Support Assistants, Maintenance Delivery Team, Resource Planner, Train Presentation Supervisor, Production Manager, Freight Manager, Depot Manager, Shunter, Freight Forwarder, Rolling Stock Field Engineer, Rolling Stock Approvals, Electrical Engineer - Rolling Stock, Fleet Performance, Field Maintenance, Signaller..

You can see all the past winners here.

This award honours an individual or team who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to safety within the rail industry. Whether through innovative safety initiatives, maintaining high safety standards, or fostering a culture of risk awareness, nominees will have played a pivotal role in protecting passengers, colleagues, and the public. Judges will be looking for those who lead by example and actively contribute to making rail operations safer for all.

Example job titles for this category:

Signalling, Signaller, HSQE Advisor, Operations Standards Manager, HSEA Manager, Possession & Rimini Planner, Safety and Compliance Controller, COSS, Training Specialist, Infrastructure Maintainer, Maintenance Workforce Safety Advisor, Workforce Health Safety & Environment Advisor, Incident Response, Competence Manager, Transport Police, SQE Advisor...

You can see all the past winners here.

This award celebrates the outstanding contributions of station staff who provide exceptional customer service and ensure smooth station operations. Whether through safety, communication, problem-solving, or customer care, nominees in this category make a significant difference in passengers’ journeys. Judges will be looking for individuals or teams who go the extra mile to enhance the travel experience through professionalism, dedication, and teamwork.

Example job titles in this category:

Ticket office / Booking staff, Retail, Transport Police, Cleaners, Customer Service, Travel Centre Staff, Station Supervisor, Station Sales Assistant, Station Customer Service, Team Leader, Service Delivery Assistant, Sales Point Assistant, Station Manager, Revenue and Security...

You can see all the past winners here.

This award honours an individual or team that has made an outstanding contribution to environmental sustainability within the rail industry. Recognising leadership and innovation, it celebrates those driving eco-friendly practices, reducing carbon footprints, and implementing sustainable solutions. Judges will be looking for initiatives that promote energy efficiency, waste reduction, renewable energy adoption, or advancements in green technologies that contribute to a more sustainable railway.

Example job titles for this category:

Corporate Strategy, Environment, Regional Community and Sustainability Manager...

You can see all the past winners here.