From a history-making event to future talent: Alstom celebrates major national awards wins in the UK

• Alstom’s record-breaking Railway 200 event – The Greatest Gathering – secures two national accolades in one week
• RailStaff Awards 2025 also honours Alstom engineers in graduate, project management, and equality, diversity and inclusion categories

Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, is celebrating after winning a suite of national industry awards in the UK, including two for its record-breaking Railway 200 event, The Greatest Gathering.

The world’s largest-ever gathering of historic and modern trains – held at Alstom’s 90-acre Derby Litchurch Lane Works in August 2025 – has secured a Project Team Award at the RailStaff Awards 2025. A day earlier, the organisers of The Greatest Gathering were also given the Star Team Award at the 2025 Heart of Gold Awards. Organised by the Railway Benefit Fund, the Heart of Gold Awards celebrate those in the rail industry who go the extra mile and make a real difference.

Meanwhile, the RailStaff Awards also recognised two Derby-based Alstom engineers, Charlotte Briers and Yasha Siddiqui. 

Charlotte Briers, Rolling Stock Performance Lead, received the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award, recognising her efforts in championing empowerment and progress as part of Alstom’s female employee resource group (ERG), Voices of Women. Last year, Charlotte obtained the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Verena Winifred Holmes Award, which also acknowledged her outstanding leadership in promoting diversity and inclusion in the rail industry, especially as Chair of the Voices of Women ERG at Alstom. 

Yasha Siddiqui was named Graduate of the Year at the RailStaff Awards. She was the Graduate Chair of Alstom’s graduate scheme in the UK, where she focused on enhancing the programme for future graduates, and ensured that everyone felt included and supported. Walsall-born Yasha completed graduate placements across the different Engineering teams at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane Works and has now moved into her permanent role as a Product Cost Engineer. This role sees her working on exploring cost-saving ideas at the design stage of new rolling stock at the Derby factory.

Elsewhere, Julie Williams, Project Manager in Alstom’s Digital and Integrated Systems team, was also highly commended in her category (Project Person Award) for her work on the successful delivery of the £36 million Victoria Phase 4 signalling project in South London. 

“Winning multiple honours at this year’s RailStaff Awards is a fantastic achievement for Alstom and a real testament to the talent and dedication of our people. From graduate excellence to leadership in diversity and inclusion, these awards highlight the breadth of expertise and commitment that drives our success across the UK rail industry,” said Rob Whyte, Managing Director of Alstom UK and Ireland, who also presented the Charity Award at the RailStaff Awards 2025.

He added: “To see The Greatest Gathering recognised twice in one week is truly remarkable. These awards celebrate not only the scale and ambition of the event but also the collaboration and passion that made it possible. I’d like to thank the Organising Committee, alongside the hundreds of Alstom colleagues, and partners across the main line and heritage sectors who made The Greatest Gathering a once-in-a-lifetime event for the thousands of visitors we welcomed to Derby, alongside the millions who enjoyed it virtually around the world.”

The RailStaff Awards began in 2007 to recognise the great work of the people who work in the rail industry and to show appreciation for the people who deliver the UK’s railway – from drivers to cleaners, and engineers to station staff. As the only national award scheme for UK rail employees, they often showcase stories of lives saved, careers turned around and adversity conquered. 

In total, Alstom secured 17 finalists across 20 categories for this year’s RailStaff Awards, including individual nods for Ben Goodwin (Rail Ambassador of the Year) and Kathryn Lancaster (Lifetime Achievement Award), two of the organisers of The Greatest Gathering.

“The RailStaff Awards is a one-of-a-kind occasion, shining a light on the people in our industry who continually go above and beyond. It is inspiring and humbling to organise this event, and it’s a privilege to see the positive impact it has on our remarkable workforce. Every winner and highly commended individual deserves real recognition, as do all the finalists and nominees,” said Adam O’Connor, Managing Director of Rail Media, who organise the RailStaff Awards. 

He added: “I am thrilled that Alstom have come away with three awards this year. Having been around their Derby operations for decades, I have personally witnessed the passion behind their success. Top work from a top team!”

The RailStaff Awards 2025 took place on Thursday 27 November 2025 at the NEC, Birmingham and were hosted by journalist, broadcaster and former politician Michael Portillo. Meanwhile, the Railway Benefit Fund’s 2025 Heart of Gold Award Winners were held at Railpen’s new London offices on Wednesday 26 November 2025. Their awards were presented by Charity President, Pete Waterman OBE, and Jo Kaye, Chief Executive Officer of the Railway Benefit Fund.

The Greatest Gathering has been nominated for the Steam Railway Magazine Award as part of the Heritage Railway Association (HRA) Annual Awards 2026. It is the only HRA Annual Award decided by public vote and honours excellence in heritage rail, with specific recognition for projects and achievements that involve steam locomotives. Voting takes place until midnight on Sunday 31 January and winners will be announced during the HRA Annual Awards ceremony in the Welsh coastal resort of Llandudno during March 2026.

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