NRA 2022: recognising railway excellence

Entries for RAIL’s 2022 National Rail Awards judging season open on January 28.

Known for their commitment to rewarding excellence and achievement across every aspect of the railway, RAIL’s annual premier awards scheme recognises everything from individual contributions made by those on the front line to major engineering triumphs on some of the railway’s biggest projects.

There are a couple of notable changes to the categories in this year’s awards. Fleet Excellence has been renamed Fleet Achievement of the Year. There are no changes to the criteria of the award itself.

The Sustainable Business Award is being split into two distinct awards to recognise the importance of this category and its different areas of focus. This award has now been replaced with Environmental Excellence and Outstanding Contribution to Society.

• Environmental Excellence recognises the vital role that rail has to play in decarbonising our economy and minimising our environmental impacts. A commitment to long-term environmental sustainability should be considered as essential for all involved in the future of the railway, including infrastructure developers and contractors.
• Outstanding Contribution to Society focuses on the railway’s role in the life of the nation - its passengers, freight customers, communities and people. To win this category, judges will be seeking an entry that will increase trust with passengers and communities, and strengthen rail’s economic and social impact.

Former Direct Rail Services Managing Director Debbie Francis OBE has joined the NRA judging panel as a full-time judge this year, having stepped in as an assistant judge in 2021.

This year’s ‘Railway Oscars’ ceremony is due to take place on September 15, once again at London’s prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane. It will be hosted by regular NRA hosts RAIL Managing Editor Nigel Harris and BBC presenter Huw Edwards.

Entries for this year’s National Rail Awards will close on March 25.

■ For more information on how to enter, full criteria and judging information, or to enquire about booking tables for the September awards ceremony, visit www.nationalrailawards.com.