The Guest of Honour at the 2023 National Railway Heritage Awards held at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London on Wednesday 6 December 2023 was Bill Reeve, the Director of Rail, Transport Scotland.
The BAM Nuttall Partnership Award was made for the restoration of the historic turntable at St Blazey near Par by the MPower Kernow Community Interest Company.
The Great Western Railway Craft Skills Award, recognising the best use of traditional craft skills in the restoration of a building or structure, was made to Robert and Anne Christie for the impressive restoration work undertaken at Cullybackey station in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.
The Urban Heritage Award, sponsored by the Arch Company, was made to Benedict O’Looney and Network Rail for work completed on Peckham Rye station in London.
The Translink Structures Award for the best-restored structure, such as a viaduct or tunnel, was made to two projects. Firstly, National Highways was recognised for work on Westfield viaduct near Bathgate. The second award was made to Network Rail and Story Contracting for the project on the bridge across the Forth at Stirling.
The London Underground Operational Enhancement Award went to Network Rail for the sympathetic way in which safety railings had been installed at Sydney Gardens in Bath, arguably one of the most sensitive of locations where the provision of new fencing was required.
The Network Rail Conservation Award for the best restored structure supported by funding from the Railway Heritage Trust was won by Centenary Lounge Ltd for the splendid restoration of the refreshment rooms on the Down platform at Leamington Spa.
The Hendy & Pendle Trust Volunteers Award was made to the Wensleydale Railway for the replacement
of the North Eastern Railway style level crossing gates at Crakehall.
The Avanti West Coast Community Award, for the restoration of a railway building for community use, was made to Network Rail, GWR, DRA and Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership for the work completed at Okehampton station.
The National Highways Award for a restoration project on a closed line, which highlights bringing back into sustainable use a building or structure no longer owned by the railway industry, was made to Paul Kirwan and Cecilia Chavez- Brandon for the restoration of the station at Rowden Mill.
The SouthEastern Commercial Restoration Award, for projects bringing into a new commercial use a railway building, was made to the Arch Company, Benedict O’Looney, architects and Frankham, for the restoration of the Findlater’s Corner at London Bridge station.
In recognition of the success of the Leighton Buzzard Railway in securing its long-term future whilst working with the developers of an adjoining major housing development, the railway was given a Chairman’s Special Commendation.
The Greater Anglia Award for the best overall entry in this year’s competition went to Folkestone Harbour Ltd for the dramatic project at Folkestone Harbour station that has seen the location transformed.