Railway Innovation Awards

THE RAILWAY INNOVATION AWARDS

Founded in 1998, the Railway Innovation Awards are the longest-standing awards scheme in the industry. Now organised by the Fourth Friday Club, the Awards are the annual event at which everybody keen on seeing innovation in the railway sector meets up to discuss and celebrate the brightest ideas in the industry.

HOW TO ENTER

Information about entering for the 2025 awards will be provided in due course.

Host: Wayne Murphy

Technical Policy Manager, RSSB

Wayne has over 35 years’ experience in the rail industry, starting his career as an apprentice train maintenance fitter. From there he has gone on to spend his career in safety management, working across the industry for train operators, large infrastructure maintenance contractors and RSSB, but he is best known for bringing mundane topics to life through the delivery of highly colourful and engaging presentations and training courses for RSSB and the Institution of Railway Operators.

In his spare time, he hosts charity quiz events and MCs at Kickboxing tournaments.

SCHEDULE

Noon: Arrival and networking
12.45: Lunch begins
14.20: After-lunch speech
14.40: The Railway Innovation Awards 2025
16.00: Close

THE AWARDS

The Fourth Friday Club’s annual event celebrating the best in railway innovation takes place each year. The 2025 awards will be the 27th for the longest standing award scheme in the industry.

This is an event to celebrate the achievements of those companies and individuals who are pushing the industry forward by developing innovative ideas.

AWARD CATEGORIES

Entries in the Railway Innovation Awards are assigned to one of these categories:

• Environment and sustainability

• Passenger experience

• Cross-industry partnership

• Operations and performance

• Engineering and Safety

• People, skills and diversity

• Small-scale project

• Major project

Winners of the Railway Industry Innovation Awards are presented with a fine cut glass engraved vase from Dartington Glass.

TABLES AND SPONSORSHIP

Tables of 10 at this event cost £1,800+VAT, sponsorship details available on request. Contact Chris Shilling via email chris@shillingmedia.co.uk or call on 07736 635916.

JUDGING PANEL

The Railway Innovation Award entries are judged by a panel of industry experts.

• David Clarke – Technical Director, Railway Industry Association (chair)
• Kelvin Davies – Head of Innovation, Global Centre of Rail Excellence
• Ben Ford – Independent Rail Innovation Specialist
• Adeline Ginn MBE – Legal Director, Egis UK and Founder, Women in Rail
• Helen Hamlin – Chief Network Operator, Network Rail
• Jo Lewington – Chief Environment & Sustainability Officer, Network Rail
• Colin Musisi – Development Engineer, Porterbrook
• Michelle Roles – Engagement Manager, Transport Focus
• Philip Sherratt – Editor, Modern Railways
• Stefan Wawszczyk, Lead Business Change Manager, Network Rail