We are proud to unveil the shortlist for the Women in Rail Awards 2026.
This year, Women in Rail received over 430 nominations recognising outstanding individuals, teams and organisations across the railway sector. Many submissions came from male allies championing the achievements of their female colleagues. Judges noted the exceptional standard of entries, making the selection process both inspiring and highly competitive.
WOMEN IN RAIL AWARDS 2026 SHORTLIST
Best Training or Development Programme Award
c2c Learning & Development team – c2c Railway Ltd
Hull Trains
L&PD Team – Network Rail
Southeastern
The EMPOWER Programme – Skills 4 & Network Rail (North West & Central Region)
TransPennine Express
Social Value Award
CAF Rail UK
KeolisAmey Metrolink
Merseyrail Social Value Team – Merseyrail
Northern
Southeastern
TRU Social Value team, led by Ann Duffy – TRU West Alliance
Employer of the Year Award
GB Railfreight Limited
Keolis Amey Docklands
KeolisAmey Metrolink
London North Eastern Railway
Merseyrail
Rail Delivery Group
Best Networking Group Award
Affinity Group / Lee Ivor-Smith – Greater Anglia
Empower Network – Rail Delivery Group
Menopause Network – AtkinsRéalis
SHE – Hitachi Rail
Southeastern
Southern Renewals Enterprise B&C Women in Construction team
Women in CPC – CPC Project Services
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team Award
Balance Women’s Employee Network – East Midlands Railway
CPC Project Services
Ganymede Solutions
KeolisAmey Metrolink
Lumo
Siemens Mobility EDI Team – Siemens Mobility
The Merseyrail EDI Team – Merseyrail
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Individual Award
Jacqueline Young – Finance and Commercial Director, GBRX
Kirsty Diamond (she/her) – Culture & Engagement Business Partner, Network Rail
Lorraine Biggs – Founder, Ethnicity and Race in Rail
Navleen Kalra – People and Transformation Director, NR, Network Rail
Nina Atwal – Head of Social Value, UK & Ireland, Alstom
Pippa Armstrong – Train Systems Engineer, Alstom Transport UK Ltd
Siobhan Spoor – Senior HR Business Partner, Network Rail
Female Apprentice of the Year Award
Aleena Elizabeth Vijee – Project Manager, Railway Project Services
Charlie Smith – Apprentice Engineer, GTR
Eve McKenzie – D&P Engineering Apprentice, Network Rail
Fardosa Said – Scheme Project Manager, Network Rail
Megan Asquith – Communications Apprentice, TransPennine Express
Megan McCreadie – Project Controls Degree Apprentice, AtkinsRéalis
Tazmin Jones – Engineer, Balfour Beatty CRSA
Female Rising Star of the Year Award
Claire Glavina – Corporate Stakeholder Manager, Northern
Emma Poppleton – Senior Engineer, Arcadis
Francesca Riley – Emerging Leader (Graduate), Transport for London
Gina Edge – Employer Brand Manager, Northern
Helen Marriner – Assistant Engineer, WSP UK
Laura Holmes – Accessibility and Inclusion Manager, Southeastern
Laura Mayne – Customer Services Manager, Network Rail
Silvia Cisotto – Data Analytics & Digital Innovation Lead, Alstom Transport UK Ltd
Yasha Siddiqui – Cost Engineer, Alstom
Male Ally of the Year Award
Andy Stringer – Engineering Director, Siemens Mobility
Carter Goodby BEM – People Business Partner, London North Eastern Railway
Charlie Doyle – Assistant Chief Constable, British Transport Police
Jon Kirkup – Deputy Group Director, Capture and Strategy, Rail Stations, WSP UK Ltd
Jonathan Clark – Director of Client and Corporate Affairs, Railpen
Kevin Warn – General Manager, Southeastern Railway
Inspirational Frontline Woman of the Year Award
Beth Wykes – Police Officer, Specialist Operations, British Transport Police
Bev Rickwood – Station Manager Rochester LOR and Strood Station, Southeastern Railway
Chloe Bradbury – Regional Customer Service Manager, CrossCountry
Debbie Greensmith – Interface Manager, Southern Renewals Enterprise – Volker Fitzpatrick
Jane Fentaman – Train Driver, CrossCountry
Melanie Marnell BEM – Ticket Office Greenwich, Southeastern
Shannon Stevenson – Mobile Operations Manager, Network Rail
Inspirational Woman of the Year Award
Alison Davies – Transpennine Route Upgrade Delivery Director West Alliance, Network Rail
Amy Ekins-Coward – Business Development and Bid Manager, First Rail Consultancy
Bel French – Senior Project Manager, Gleeds
Federica Labanca – Principal Route Engineer (Buildings), Network Rail Central Route
Helen Simpson – CEO, Enspired Consulting
Jinita Sagoo – Delivery Lead, WSP
Kate Turner – Chief Operating Officer, DB Cargo UK
Ruth Humphrey – Head of Business Development and Strategy, UKI, Siemens Mobility
Sharon Young MBE – Director, WSP
Susan Khan – Head of Engineering Function, Hitachi Rail
The Adeline Ginn Unsung Hero Award
Charlotte Ritchie – Head of Communications and Strategic Engagement, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway
Helen Dickerson – Depot Yard Manager, Greater Anglia
Julie Christine Low – Systems Support Manager, Perth, Network Rail
Lauren Pastellas – Use of Force Compliance officer, British Transport Police
Lucy Willis – Catering Logistics Manager, CrossCountry
Rachel Evans – Special Events Manager, Chiltern Railways
Shelly Greenstreet – Fleet Head of Materials CL444/450, Siemens Mobility Limited
The Adeline Ginn Lifetime Achievement Award
Barbara Davenport – Head of Wellbeing, South Western Railway/ Network Rail Wessex
Christine Kernoghan – Chair, Railways Pension Trustee
Elaine Clark – Chief Executive, Rail Forum
Eleni Jordan – Commercial & Business Strategy Director, c2c Railway
Kathryn Lancaster – Communications Manager, Alstom
Rachel Heath – Operations Director, Wales and Borders, Network Rail
