Network Rail wins Business of the Year at RFG Awards 2025
Network Rail was named Business of the Year at this year’s Rail Freight Group Awards (RFG) after demonstrating innovation, flexibility and collaboration with a range of stakeholders, resulting in reduced costs, greater productivity and new freight flows being brought to rail.
The judges also noted that the Network Rail freight team has worked hard to make sure that everyone in the Network Rail organisation understands the importance of freight to its business and to the country as a whole.
There were a record number of entries in this year’s awards, with the winners announced at an awards dinner on Thursday 4 September at Shendish Manor, Apsley.
This year, RFG took the unusual step of presenting a Lifetime Achievement Award to recognise the huge contribution which the recipient, Neil Sime of Victa Railfreight, has made to the rail freight industry over the last 45 years. He identified a critical gap in the market and established a business that has resulted in major operational and resource efficiencies to the benefit of the whole industry. The judges said that his ability to balance strategic vision with hands-on expertise makes him a truly exceptional leader in our industry.
The Rail Freight Project of the Year award was given to GB Railfreight for supporting the MOD participating in NATO’s largest military exercise since the Cold War. The judges said that the project has unlocked potentially significant new traffic flows by greatly increasing the feasibility of connectivity into mainland Europe, utilising the Channel Tunnel.
The full list of award winners is:
• Business of the Year
Winner: Network Rail
• Driving Rail Freight Growth
Winner: Tata Steel, DB Cargo and Network Rail
Runners-up: Holcim UK and DC Rail
Runners-up: DRS and Tesco
• Sustainability & Safety
Winner: Davis Wagon Services
Runner-up: DB Cargo
• Innovation & Talent
Winner: Network Rail
Runner-up: Freightliner
• Rail Freight Project of the Year
Winner: GB Railfreight
Runner-up: Network Rail
• Outstanding Individual Contribution
Winner: Paul Lemon of GB Railfreight
Runner-up: Charlotte Ashton, Network Rail
• Young Rail Freight Professional
Winner: Emma Haldane of Freightliner
Runner-up: James Butterworth of Victa Railfreight
• Lifetime Achievement Award
Neil Sime of Victa Railfreight
RFG is grateful to GB Railfreight and Burges Salmon for their continued support of these awards.