The Chartered Institution of Railway Operators is proud to once again support the Rail Industry Planning Awards, returning for their second year following the success of the inaugural 2025 event. The awards will take centre stage at the 2026 Industry Planning Conference, held on Tuesday 14 April 2026 at the Marriott Hotel Leeds, where the rail planning community will come together to celebrate outstanding achievement, innovation, and collaboration.
Nominations for the 2026 awards are now officially open, offering organisations and individuals across the industry the opportunity to showcase exceptional work in planning and operational excellence. Entries opened on Monday 17 November and will close on Friday 9 January 2026.
This year’s categories recognise the breadth of expertise and impact across the planning discipline:
Nominations can be submitted via the Rail Industry Planning Awards website: Rail Industry Planning Awards.
Building on the Success of the Inaugural Awards
The 2025 event, known informally as the Golden Planners set a high benchmark for recognising excellence, bringing together professionals from across the industry to celebrate innovation and leadership in planning and operations.
A highlight of the inaugural ceremony was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Andrew Pennington, recognising his remarkable contributions to train planning over more than three decades. Andrew, who supports CIRO and Avanti West Coast as an Operations and Planning Projects Specialist, was honoured for his transformative impact on planning practice and his long-standing commitment to developing future generations of railway professionals.
His award, presented by Mark Hopwood CBE, Managing Director of Great Western Railway and now CIRO Board Chair, underscored the significance of leadership, mentorship, and professional excellence within the planning discipline.
The success of the 2025 awards reinforced the importance of recognising planning excellence at every level of the industry, an ethos that continues to shape the 2026 programme.
CIRO’s Continued Commitment to Recognising Excellence
As a supporting organisation—alongside Winder Phillips Associates, 1Timetable, Signature Rail and Modern Railways—CIRO is proud to champion the individuals and teams who play a vital role in delivering safe, efficient, and customer-focused railway operations.
CIRO’s involvement reflects its mission to lead, inspire and accelerate the growth of rail professionals, promoting collaboration and recognising the achievements that drive the industry forward. By supporting the Rail Industry Planning Awards, CIRO continues to highlight the essential contribution of planning professionals across all areas of the network.
Nominate Now
Whether it’s a ground breaking timetable initiative, an exceptional team effort, or an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution, the 2026 Rail Industry Planning Awards provide the platform to celebrate excellence in planning.
To find out more, submit a nomination, or watch highlights from the 2025 awards evening, visit: Rail Industry Planning Awards.
