DCRail wins Business of the Year at RFG Awards 2026

DCRail was named Business of the Year at this year’s Rail Freight Group (RFG) Awards, after demonstrating excellence in sustainability, safety and driving rail freight growth.

The judges praised the company’s investment in people, equipment and a network of multi-user freight facilities. Over the past seven years, DCRail has brought disused rail terminals and depots back into operation, made challenging traffic flows commercially viable and helped attract new freight to rail. Customers also highlighted the company’s flexibility, reliability and ability to respond to changing schedules and complex logistical demands.

DCRail has grown from a small business into an increasingly significant rail freight operator, now moving more than one million tonnes of goods each year. It operates a fleet of eight locomotives and 100 box wagons and has achieved annual turnover of more than £11 million.

A record year for the awards
A record number of entries was received for this year’s awards, with the winners announced at the RFG Awards Dinner on Thursday 10 September at Hunton Park Hotel, Abbots Langley.

A special Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to John Smith OBE of GB Railfreight in recognition of his longstanding contribution to the rail freight industry.

The evening celebrated excellence right across the sector, with awards recognising achievement in growth, innovation, safety, sustainability, project delivery and individual contribution. A huge thank you to Richard Bowker CBE, our guest speaker, and to our award sponsors Burges Salmon and GB Railfreight.


The full list of award winners is:

• Business of the Year

Winner: DCRail

• Driving Rail Freight Growth

Winner: Network Rail – Access Charge Discount Policy
Runners-up: DC Rail; Direct Rail Services and Tesco

• Rail Freight Innovation

Winner: Railfreight Consulting Ltd and RSSB
Runners-up: VTG Rail UK and Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems UK; Network Rail, GB Railfreight and TEF Gauging

• Safety Excellence

Winner: ABP, Tata Steel and DB Cargo UK

• Sustainability and Environmental Excellence

Winner: Maritime Transport
Runners-up: DP World Southampton; Breedon Hope Cement Works

• Rail Freight Project of the Year

Winner: Fishbone – HS2 project
Runners-up: GB Railfreight – National Seasonal Treatment Transformation Project; Network Rail, GB Railfreight and DP World

• Outstanding Individual Contribution

Winner: Julian Worth
Runner-up: Jess Lippett, Network Rail

• Young Rail Freight Professional

Winner: Jozef Ochwat, Hutchison Ports UK
Runner-up: Alister Johnson, GB Railfreight

• Lifetime Achievement Award

John Smith, GB Railfreight