Rail Industry Planning Awards

We're back

Following a successful launch year, the Rail Industry Planning Awards will return on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.

Train planners sit at the heart of our industry, creating high-performing timetables and resource plans that benefit passengers and freight customers alike.

The Rail Industry Planning Awards (also known as the Golden Planners) recognise excellence in train planning: showcasing best practice and strengthening our professional community.

By connecting people and goods efficiently, train planners play a crucial role in helping the economy and communities to thrive now and in the future.

Entries for the 2026 planning awards are now closed and judging is underway. Please stay tuned for updates and the publication of the shortlist

Celebratory video

To whet your appetite for the 2026 awards, below is a short celebratory video from the 2025 awards evening.

Award categories

Award entries open on Monday, 17 November 2025 and closed on Friday, 9 January 2026. These are the award categories:

Timetable Performance Initiative
Strategic or Long-Term Planning Team of the Year
Short-Term Planning Team of the Year
Emergency Plan of the Year
Event Plan of the Year
Customer-Driven Project of the Year
Engineering Access Planning Award
Collaboration of the Year
Outstanding Personal Contribution (People’s Choice)

Entries for the 2026 planning awards are now closed and judging is underway. Please stay tuned for updates and the publication of the shortlist

New judges for 2026

This year we welcome some new judges to our line-up, with Maggie Simpson, Director General for Rail Freight Group, Clare Waller, Network Rail’s Head of Planning & Performance at North West Route and Nicole Smith, Head of Train Planning at Arriva Rail London bringing added expertise and industry perspective to help us judge what is sure to be another hugely competitive field of entries.