Date/Time
Date(s) - 6 March 2026
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Categories
The Golden Whistle Awards celebrate the hard work and collaborative spirit driving the UK rail industry. From individual excellence to exceptional team efforts, these nominees are reshaping rail operations and driving continuous improvement. Their work exemplifies the highest standards of safety, innovation, and efficiency that are essential to the sector’s success. The winners of the 2026 Golden Whistle Awards will be announced at the Modern Railways Fourth Friday Club’s Golden Whistle Award ceremony on 6th March 2026. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of all the shortlisted nominees!.
Event date: 6th March 2026
Event venue: London Marriott Grosvenor Square, Duke Street, Mayfair, London W1K 6JP
Event schedule: Morning Conference, 12 noon Pre-lunch drinks, 12.45 Guests enter the dining room for lunch, 14.40 After-lunch speech, 15.00 The Golden Whistle Awards, 16.15 Close
Host: Steve Murphy
Chair, Network Performance Board
We are delighted to welcome Steve Murphy as host of the 2026 Golden Whistles. With more than 30 years of railway leadership — spanning Chiltern Railways, Irish Rail, Deutsche Bahn, London Overground, and most recently as CEO of MTR UK — Steve brings unmatched insight and experience to the event.
Guest Speaker: Claire Mann
Chief Operating Officer, Transport for London
With over 25 years in transport, Claire Mann has held senior roles at Heathrow Express, South Western Railway, and now oversees all TfL services as COO. Claire also sits on the CIRO Board of Governors and brings a wealth of operational knowledge to our 2026 programme.
Golden Whistles are presented across a range of performance areas:
Most categories are judged from industry-compiled data and do not require entry submissions.
The exception is the Outstanding Operator / Operating Team category/ Outstanding Operating Intervention — where CIRO invites nominations for individuals or teams who have gone above and beyond. Winners receive a Gold Whistle, with Silver and Highly Commended awards also presented.
Do you know an exceptional operator, team or intervention which deserves to be recognised? Nominations now closed:
Nominate now for Golden Whistle 2026
Deadline for entries: 16th January 2026
For further details about the event, visit the Modern Railways website.
