” 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. “

Enter the Competition

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

The Hendy & Pendle
Charitable Trust

2022 Awards Ceremony

The Guest of Honour at the 2022 National Railway Heritage Awards held at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London on Tuesday 6 December 2022 was HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO.

Read More

Hanwell plaque unveiled

On 23 November 2022 representatives of the National Railway Heritage Awards and other bodies gathered at Hanwell station in west London for the formal unveiling of the plaque awarded at the NRHA award ceremony in December 2021.
The unveiling ceremony was to recognise The London Underground Award for Operational Enhancement 2021 awarded to Transport for London and MTR for the works connected with access and improvements related to the introduction of the Elizabeth Line service.

Read More

Tribute to the late Theo Steel as the plaque awarded in his name is unveiled at Wallingford

At the 2021 National Railway Heritage Awards held in London on 1 December, a special award was made to the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway for the restoration of the former canopy from Maidenhead at Wallingford. In tribute to Theo Steel, the NRHA’s chairman who had sadly passed away shortly before the award ceremony, the award was named in his honour. On Saturday 20 August members of Theo’s family and of the NRHA gathered at Wallingford station when the plaque was officially unveiled

Read More

2023 Awards Timetable

Entries: closing date Friday 12th May 2023

Judging: June – August

Adjudication: September

Shortlisted Entries notification: October

Award Invitations dispatched: November

Awards ceremony: Wednesday 6th December 2023

2022 Awards Ceremony