The yearly European Railway Award ceremony took place in Brussels on 2 February, seeing 2 winners. The 2026 Rail Trailblazer Award went to a unified call from several EU countries demanding tangible progress on high-speed rail. Poland received the 2026 Rail Champion Award for its leadership during its presidency of the Council of the EU.
The 19th edition of the yearly event was held at Belgium’s Royal Museums of Fine Arts and is jointly organised by the European Rail Supply Industry Association (UNIFE) and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER).
The ceremony opened with a moment of silence for victims of recent railway accidents in Spain and a drone attack on a passenger train in Ukraine. The rail sector and European representatives expressed deep condolences to those affected by these tragedies. The award’s charitable donation this year went to the Ukrainian Red Cross, which received €10,000.
A joint call for more HSR
A joint letter lies at the heart of the Rail Trailblazer winning initiative. Signed by various prime ministers and heads of government, it urged the European Commission to speed up the creation of a truly European high-speed rail network. This collective appeal has added significant political momentum to the expansion of high-speed rail across Europe. The initiative aims to boost European mobility and economic growth through better rail connections.
The Rail Trailblazer Award was accepted by representatives from the countries involved in the letter. They included Latvian Minister of Transport Atis Švinka, Romanian Secretary of State Ionuț-Cristian Săvoiu, Slovak State Secretary Denisa Žiláková, Estonian Secretary General Marten Kokk, and others from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, and Spain.
Poland in the spotlight
Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU earned a Rail Champion Award by “highlighted rail as a top political priority, giving much-needed attention to issues such as innovation and investment”. The Award was accepted by Piotr Malepszak, Undersecretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure: “Transport is not only about mobility – it’s about security. The sabotage attacks on Polish railways last year proved that. Under the Polish Presidency, we made security a pillar of a competitive and well-financed European transport system. Today, the Polish approach is setting the direction for Europe’s rail future.”
Throughout its term, Poland kept rail high on the political agenda, say the award organisers CER and UNIFE. It emphasised innovation and investment, reinforcing the importance of rail transport and industry in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and resilience. “Poland used its presidency to advance the European rail agenda and strengthen the position of the rail supply industry in an impressive manner”, said Michael Peter, UNIFE Chair and CEO of Siemens Mobility. “Leading on the competitiveness and simplification agenda, and preparing key initiatives such as the proposals for the new EU budget and the EU military mobility package, Poland has demonstrated true leadership in championing the European Rail Supply Industry.”
Alan Beroud, CER Chair and CEO of Polish state operator PKP: “The Polish Presidency’s leadership – recognised with the Rail Champion Award, and the collective call of EU countries for a truly European high-speed rail network – honoured with the Rail Trailblazer Award, both show what can be achieved when political will converges in support of rail. Together with industry and policymakers, railways are building the foundations for a stronger, more competitive and connected Europe for generations to come. I am particularly proud that CER and the PKP Office in Brussels got involved and initiated so many important pro-rail activities during the Polish Presidency.”
Joint declaration: continued funding, lower system costs
At the occasion of the Award ceremony, CER and UNIFE also announced the signing of a joint declaration. This commits the European rail supply industry and European railways to work together. Their focus includes securing continued funding, modernising and expanding Europe’s rail network, and harmonising standards. The declaration also highlights the need to lower system costs and invest in research and innovation. The goal is to meet all high-speed rail and military mobility targets for the benefit and protection of European citizens.
Throughout the evening, speakers stressed the importance of supporting those who contribute daily to a safe, sustainable, and efficient European rail system. The European Railway Award has honoured such achievements since 2007. It attracts over 600 guests annually, including politicians and transport stakeholders from across Europe.
Last year, the Rail Champion Award 2025 went to Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy. A Lifetime Achievement Award went to Dominique Riquet, former Member of the European Parliament, and an Accomplishment Award went to Josef Doppelbauer, former Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Railways.
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