Nominations open for Rail Industry Awards

Nominations are officially open for the Rail Industry Awards, aiming to celebrate the sector’s standout individuals, organisations and projects. 

The event honours a wide range of achievements, showcasing excellence and innovation to support the rail industry’s growth and success. 

A total of 16 awards are open for nomination, five to celebrate individuals and eleven to recognise a project or organisation. Each award has its own selection criteria that nominations will be judged against.   

Nominations are open to any individual working in the rail industry and organisations operating in or affiliated with rail in Australia and New Zealand.  

Nominations close 2 May 2025 and the winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner on Wednesday 17 September 2025.   

Award categories  

Individual awards: 

• Signalling and Systems Engineering Excellence (IRSE) (judged by the IRSE) 

• Emerging Rail Specialist Award (judged by the RTAA) 

• PWI Young Achiever Award (judged by the PWI NSW) 

• Young Rail Professional Award (judged by the RTSA) 

• Career Achievement Award (judged by the ARA)  

Project or organisation awards: 

• Freight Rail Excellence Award (ARA) 

• Passenger Operations Excellence Award (ARA) 

• Infrastructure Project Excellence Award (RTSA) 

• Supplier Excellence Award (ARA) 

• RISSB Safety Excellence Award (RISSB) 

• Customer Service Excellence Award (ARA) 

• Employee Engagement Excellence Award (ARA) 

• Rail Innovation of the Year Award (ARA) 

• Sustainability Excellence Award (ARA) 

• Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Award (ARA) 

• Wellbeing in Rail Award (TrackSAFE Foundation)  

The awards were established in partnership with a range of rail organisations in recognition of the shared support for excellence in the rail industry.  

The Australasian Railway Association thanked the Rail Track Association Australia, Rail Technical Society Australasia, Permanent Way Institution, Institution of Railway Signal Engineers and Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board for their continued support.

More information and the specific criteria for judging nominations is outlined in the Nomination Guide.