A range of train operating companies are celebrating after winning big at the prestigious Rail Business Awards.

The Rail Business Awards celebrate excellence, innovation and outstanding achievement across all aspects of the sector. They recognise organisations and individuals who demonstrate exceptional performance and contribution to the UK rail industry.

London Northwestern Railway (LNR) was awarded the top prize of ‘Train Operator of the Year’.

The award follows a milestone period for LNR and its sister-brand West Midlands Railway (WMR), as its £1billion investment into new trains and infrastructure came to fruition.

The sister-brands have introduced three new fleets in recent years, increasing capacity on its services by 40 per cent and improving journeys for more than one million passengers every week.

A key part of this programme was LNR’s introduction of the Class 730/2 electric trains to the West Coast Main Line on routes to and from London Euston. The trains feature intelligent air conditioning, improved accessibility features and power points at every seat. Since their introduction, customer satisfaction has risen by 20 per cent, with scores relating to “space to sit or stand” increasing to an impressive 91 per cent.

Significant investment has also been made into the company’s train depots, including an £80million investment into Bletchley depot. The enhancements, unveiled by Rail Minister Lord Hendy, provide increased capacity and future-proofed equipment to support the new fleet.

Ian McConnell, managing director at LNR, said: “We are extremely proud to win ‘Train Operator of the Year’. This award is testament to the hard work of colleagues across our business, who have successfully introduced three new train fleets and futureproofed our train depots, while continuing to keep passengers moving every day.

“It’s been a tremendous team effort, so it’s fantastic to be recognised for our achievements over the past year. We are committed to keeping up this high standard and continuing to improve, so we can deliver the best possible service for our customers and communities.”

The investment programme has driven significant passenger growth. A recent report from the Office of Rail Road showed a massive 12 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of people using the sister operators’ services in the first quarter of 2025/26, equating to more than two million extra journeys.

In total LNR and WMR carried a combined 67.7 million passengers in 2024/25 and this figure is forecast to rise to more than 80 million journeys in 2025/26.

Great Western Railway (GWR) won two awards, celebrating excellence in innovation, and safety and security.

Winning the ‘Innovation of the Year’ category, GWR was recognised for its world-record breaking 200.5-mile battery train run, the longest ever on a single charge.

GWR said the achievement, independently validated by the Railway Performance Society, demonstrated that zero-emission regional rail travel was an achievable option for today’s railway without full overhead electrification.

GWR’s fast-charging trial on the Greenford branch line validated rapid recharging technology costing 60 per cent less than traditional electrification.

The operator added that together, these innovations provided a cost-effective option for decarbonising regional rail, with its findings now informing national policy on sustainable fleet renewal and infrastructure investment.

GWR won a second top award for ‘Safety & Security Excellence’ for its Resilient Futures: Bridgwater Safeguarding Response: an intervention that reduced youth antisocial behaviour (ASB) by 77 per cent. Working with 20 plus partners including British Transport Police and Railway Children, GWR reframed youth ASB as a safeguarding challenge, delivering staff training, enhanced reporting systems, and community initiatives including the Bold & Brave café providing skills and employment opportunities.

GWR was highly commended for multi-modal accessibility enhancements including Barnstaple Station improvements, integrated transport pilots, and autism awareness programmes.

Mark Hopwood, Managing Director of GWR, said: “It was a really successful night for our teams, and a tremendous honour for everyone at GWR and our partners. These awards reflect the hard work, innovation and dedication of our teams and partners who work tirelessly to put our passengers first, to improve safety, and to find innovative solutions help our communities to prosper.

“The Rail Business Awards set the benchmark for industry excellence, and to be celebrated among such impressive peers is extremely rewarding.

“This recognition motivates us to continue pushing boundaries, sharing best practice across the sector, and ensuring our railway is not just safe and efficient, but genuinely life-changing for those who need it most.”

TransPennine Express (TPE), meanwhile, walked away with three awards.

The operator was recognised for its leadership, commitment to customers and dedication to colleague wellbeing at the Rail Business Awards, which were held last night (Thursday 19 February) in London.

TPE’s Managing Director, Chris Jackson, was named Industry Leader of the Year, acknowledging his role in steering the organisation through a period of transformation.The company also secured the title of Rail Business of the Year, reflecting its strengthened performance, investment in accessibility and community partnerships, and its ongoing work to deliver more reliable, sustainable and passenger centred services across the North and Scotland.

Rounding off the trio of accolades, TPE won Wellbeing in Rail, recognising the organisation’s continuous efforts to support colleague mental health and wellbeing.

Speaking after the ceremony, Chris Jackson said the awards were a reflection of the dedication and passion of teams across TPE.

He said: “I’m incredibly proud of our colleagues who work tirelessly every day to support customers and each other. These awards belong to all of them. They show just how far we’ve come — and how committed we are to building a railway that puts people first.”