” A competition to recognise, acknowledge and reward, for the public benefit, the very best in re-use, restoration and conservation of our historic railway infrastructure. “

We are the only Awards body dedicated to encouraging and rewarding best practice in the re-use, restoration and continued upkeep of our rich heritage of railway and tramway buildings and structures.

The Awards began in 1979 and was initially focused on the heritage railway preservation movement. Since Privatisation in the 1990’s, the Awards have broadened to encompass the infrastructure of the national rail network and entries from the national sector now form a substantial part.

The Awards are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO): as an independent Trust our charitable status was originally confirmed by the Charity Commission in December 2006.

The Awards would not be possible without the generous support of our Sponsors.
For more information about the Sponsors, please click on “The Awards” section and the Sponsors’ link at the top of this page.

Supported by the Railway Industry

Railway Heritage Trust
Heritage Railway Association
GWR
GWR
Heritage Railway Association
Southeastern
Southeastern
Heritage Railway Association
The Arch Co

Rebuild of Troon Station rewarded

When a major building is seriously damaged or destroyed there is always a debate: restore or replace. On 17 July 2021 the largely wooden-built Grade B listed building that served platform 1 at Troon station in Scotland was destroyed beyond repair. The building, which dated to 1892, was designed by James Miller for the Glasgow & South Western Railway.

Read More

2024 Award Ceremony held in London

The Guest of Honour at the 2024 National Railway Heritage Awards held at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London on Wednesday 4 December 2024 was Ptolemy Dean OBE, the architect, television presenter and current Surveyor of the Fabric of Westminster Abbey.

Read More

Leamington Spa

Friday 25 October 2024 saw representatives of the National Railway Heritage Awards and the Friends of the station gather in the recently-restored refreshment rooms on Platform Two, where the plaque awarded to the Centenary Lounge Ltd for the work completed was officially unveiled by Tom Higginson, Director of Planning and Land Services at Network Rail, on behalf of the award’s sponsors.

Read More

2024 Awards Timetable

Entries: closing date Friday 31st May 2024

Judging: June – August

Adjudication: September

Shortlisted Entries notification: October

Award Invitations dispatched: November

Awards ceremony: Wednesday 4th December 2024

2024 Awards Ceremony