The European railway sector has used the 18th edition of the European Railway Award to call on all actors, from policymakers to the broader sector and beyond, to move from planning to execution, in order to fully realise the benefits of the Single European Railway Area. An enhanced and truly connected European rail network is crucial in tackling the continent’s biggest challenges.
Jointly organised by the European Rail Supply Industry Association (UNIFE) and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), the 2025 edition bestowed three awards during a prestigious ceremony at Belgium’s Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels. ‘A new journey for Europe’s rail: From Inspiration to Realisation’ was the theme of this year’s awards, which paid tribute to three driving forces for rail who helped pave the way to today’s time for action.
Notable figures who took part in proceedings included European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Polish Minister of Infrastructure, Dariusz Klimczak, representing the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and MEP Dariusz Joński, Member of the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee.
As part of the evening’s honours, Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta was awarded the event’s Rail Champion prize for his considerable efforts to raise awareness of rail’s unique qualities, and to promote it as key to the future of European growth and prosperity.
Letta’s highly influential report to the Council of the EU, ‘Much More Than a Market’ calls for the planning, funding, and implementation of high-speed rail to connect European capitals, which is a key pillar of the green and digital transitions.
A Lifetime Achievement Award went to Former Member of the European Parliament Dominique Riquet, a strong ally for rail throughout his career. Over successive parliamentary mandates (2009-2024), he notably co-led the vital negotiations for the revision of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) regulation, while also supporting and driving long-term funding and financing for the benefit of rail networks across the European Union (in particular with the Connecting Europe Facility).
As part of the ceremony, Josef Doppelbauer was bestowed with an Accomplishment Award by his peers, celebrating more than 25 years of activity in the sector and two successful mandates as Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Railways from 2015-2024, where he championed the Fourth Railway Package and its implementation.
Remarks across the evening outlined the need for consistent funding through an ambitious Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034, while also ensuring predictable regulation and completing outstanding policy frameworks and programs, such as TEN-T network upgrades and the roll-out of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).
This includes the sector calling on EU policymakers and Members of the European Parliament for a modernisation of infrastructure, the adoption of innovative technologies and integration of cross-border networks, which are vital for meeting the demands of a competitive European economy.