photo: ERA/2026 European Railway Award
Europe’s rail sector has recognised two major political contributions at the 2026 European Railway Award in Brussels. High-speed rail cooperation between EU countries and Poland’s rail-focused EU Council Presidency were both honoured.
Two major contributions to Europe’s rail future were honoured at the 19th European Railway Award in Brussels. A unified call from EU countries to deliver tangible progress on high-speed rail took the 2026 Rail Trailblazer Award, while Poland clinched the 2026 Rail Champion Award for their outstanding efforts during their Presidency of the Council of the EU to drive rail forward as a pillar of European competitiveness and resilience.
Jointly organised by the European Rail Supply Industry Association (UNIFE) and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), the 2026 edition took place at a prestigious ceremony at Belgium’s Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels.
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High-Speed Rail and the Rail Trailblazer Award
At the heart of the Rail Trailblazer initiative is a joint letter to the European Commission endorsed by Prime Ministers and Heads of Government, in which the countries urge the EU to accelerate the development of a truly European high-speed rail network. The collective call to action gave a highly significant boost to the growing political momentum behind high-speed rail expansion in Europe as a lever of enhanced European mobility and economic growth.
The Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU earned its Rail Champion title for delivering an exceptionally rich programme for rail. Throughout its term, Poland highlighted rail as a top political priority, giving much needed attention to innovation and investment. The Presidency’s efforts solidified the pivotal role played by European rail transport and industry in boosting European competitiveness and resilience.
The influence of both initiatives could already be seen in the European Commission’s High-Speed Rail Plan and Military Mobility Package delivered at the end of 2025, showing the significant impact the countries’ contributions have made.
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Sector Commitments and Ceremony Highlights
Further to this, CER and UNIFE announced the signing of a joint declaration on behalf of both the European rail supply industry and European railways. The declaration is a joint commitment to work together to ensure continued funding, modernisation, harmonisation, and expansion of Europe’s rail network. It also touches on the need to reduce the costs of the system, invest in research and innovation, and ensure that all high-speed rail and military mobility goals are achieved to benefit and better protect citizens across Europe.
Accepting the 2026 Rail Trailblazer Award on behalf of countries partnering on the high-speed rail letter included representatives from Latvia, Romania, Slovakia, Estonia, Czechia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, and Spain. The Undersecretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure, Piotr Malepszak, accepted the 2026 Rail Champion Award on behalf of the Polish Government.
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Further notable figures who took part in proceedings included representatives of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, the European Parliament, and the European Commission.
At the start of the ceremony, there was a dedicated moment of silence for the victims of the train accidents in Spain and the Russian drone attack on the passenger train in Ukraine.
The European Railway Award, jointly organised by UNIFE and CER, celebrates achievements that strengthen European rail. First presented in 2007, the event attracts more than 600 guests each year, with prize money donated to charity. This year, the €10,000 donation was awarded to the Ukrainian Red Cross.
Source: ERA Press Release