The Heritage Railway Association Annual Awards have received more entries than ever before.
A record breaking 92 submissions have been received by the HRA for the 2025 Annual Awards. The huge level of interest - nearly 25% up on 2024 - is seen by the trade association as a strong indication that heritage rail is fighting back strongly from the twin challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.
Heritage Railway Association Chief Executive, Steve Oates, said: “The awards in 2024 were a record year for entries, but this eclipses it completely. We’ve launched a couple of very popular new categories, like Achievement of the Year, but we’ve seen strong interest across the board.
“It’s been a tough few years for heritage rail, but I’d like to think that this is evidence that a lot of the hard work that dedicated people in the sector have been doing is really paying off. The calibre of entries we’ve received would certainly suggest that. Now the really difficult job of judging them all will begin.”
New categories for 2025 also included ‘Station of the Year,’ which will be awarded to the station or halt that best demonstrates excellence in restoration or maintenance, customer service, facilities and attention to detail. Meanwhile, Achievement of the Year will be given to a railway or tramway that has delivered a significant achievement during the last 12-months.
In total 12 categories were available to enter online including titles for restoration of steam locomotives, diesel or electric locomotives, and carriages or wagons. The hotly contested awards for young volunteers and rising stars also return, as do awards for infrastructure projects and marketing. Arguably the most prestigious award of all, ‘Railway of the Year’ also returns after being won by Brighton’s unique Volks Electric Railway in 2024.
The HRA awards recognise excellence or innovation in almost every aspect of heritage railway and tramway restoration, preservation and operation. Recent winners have ranged from the Swanage Railway-based restoration of Victorian ‘T3’ Class steam locomotive No. 563, to the Llangollen Railway for their Corwen extension project, and the 15in gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway for their marketing.
A judging panel chaired by the National Railway Museum’s Anthony Coulls will pore over all of the entries during the next few weeks to produce a shortlist which will be published before the end of the year.
The 2025 HRA Awards Evening and Dinner for finalists will be held at the Hilton NewcastleGateshead during February and will feature guest speakers and networking opportunities alongside a three-course meal.
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