The annual Women in Rail Awards took place on Thursday 15 May at the Roundhouse, Camden, London, bringing together over 800 professionals from across the UK rail industry for a spectacular evening of celebration, inspiration and recognition.
The event, established to honour individuals and organisations who have made outstanding contributions to improving gender balance, diversity, and inclusion within the rail sector, was once again a resounding success. Hosted by Gail Porter, the evening featured moving stories, exceptional achievements, and a powerful sense of unity among attendees.
Following the champagne reception, guests were serenaded to their seats by the Southeastern TRAX Choir. A welcome address from Chair of Women in Rail, Marie Daly, followed by a keynote address from Laura Shoaf, Chair, Shadow Great British Railways, marked the opening of the ceremony.
A total of 14 awards were presented, celebrating both individual excellence and collaborative initiatives that are shaping a more inclusive future for the rail industry.
The judging panel, made up of senior leaders from across the sector, faced the difficult task of selecting winners from a record number of entries, a testament to the incredible work being done across the network. The judges specifically requested that all nominees be commended for their hard work, selfless dedication, and commitment, and that a huge thank you be extended to all those who were nominated for this year’s Women in Rail Awards. The complete list of Winners, Highly Commended, and Shortlisted is available on the Women in Rail website, womeninrail.org/awards
Marie Daly, Chair of Women in Rail and Chief Operations Officer at Transport for Wales, said: “Since taking on the role of Chair 18 months ago, I’ve seen our industry undergo significant transformation. With the introduction of the Railways Bill to enable the formation of Great British Railways (GBR), we are entering a defining period for rail, Women in Rail stands ready to support industry leaders in shaping strategies that foster inclusive cultures, deliver equity, and help our industry grow. Guided by our purpose, to ensure leaders create environments where women are supported and can thrive every day throughout their careers, we remain focused on improving gender balance, championing diversity and embedding best practice. Our mission is to be “unapologetic in our pursuit of gender equity in the rail industry.” Through our business and engagement plans, and by amplifying the voices of our members, we are driving real change. You can all play a part in this journey - together we can do more.”
Marie, further went on to say, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank and celebrate all the nominated individuals and companies, all truly inspirational in their own right, whose passion and determination will continue to drive forward the progress and changes needed to improve the gender balance across the sector. Thanks must also go to our 2025 Sponsors, the Women in Rail members, volunteers, trustees and regional teams for their collective contributions and of course, to everyone who attended the event.”
On the evening, Marie proudly spoke about the Women in Rail’s Strategic Business Plan, in how it is setting a bold vision for the future of gender equality in the rail sector. The plan outlines a clear roadmap to attract, support, elevate, and empower women across all areas of the industry through targeted action, collective effort, and measurable impact. Full details of the plan can be found on the Women in Rail website.
The organisation and delivery of the event was made possible through the expert support of Nimble Media, who worked in close partnership with Women in Rail to curate an evening that was both professionally executed and deeply impactful.
Women in Rail would like to extend a heartfelt gratitude to all the 2025 Awards Sponsors, whose generous support made this event possible. Without their commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in the rail industry, this event and its recognition of outstanding achievements would not be possible. Thank you for your continued partnership and dedication to driving positive change.
Headline Sponsor: London North Eastern Railway Limited;
Category Sponsors: BAM, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) Limited, Greater Anglia, Hitachi Rail, KeolisAmey Docklands, Morson Group, MTR Elizabeth Line, Transport UK, c2c and London Northwestern & West Midlands Railways;
Drink & Wine Sponsor: BTTC;
Table Decoration Sponsor: Avanti West Coast;
Fundraising Sponsor: East Midlands Railway; and
Gift Bag Sponsor: Alstom UK & Ireland.
The Women in Rail Awards will be back in 2026, to keep up to date with news and events visit Women in Rail.
