Merseyrail named Passenger Operator of the Year at National Rail Awards
Merseyrail is celebrating being named Passenger Operator of the Year at the National Rail Awards, one of the rail industry's most prestigious and highly sought-after awards.
The National Rail Awards, held in London, recognise excellence from across the UK rail industry, celebrating organisations and individuals that are delivering exceptional services for customers, colleagues and communities.
Winning Passenger Operator of the Year is a significant achievement and recognises the dedication, professionalism and commitment shown by colleagues across the organisation every day. The award reflects the collective effort of teams across the network, from those supporting customers to colleagues working behind the scenes to deliver a safe, reliable and customer-focused railway.
Alongside winning Passenger Operator of the Year, Merseyrail also received further national recognition, being highly commended in both the Outstanding Teamwork Award and Outstanding Contribution to Society categories.
The Outstanding Teamwork recognition celebrated the huge effort involved in delivering Grand National 2025, with colleagues from across the network working together to safely and efficiently move hundreds of thousands of racegoers to and from Aintree.
The Outstanding Contribution to Society accolade recognised Merseyrail's Second Chances Programme, delivered in partnership with the Rebuilding Futures Alliance, which provides employment opportunities and support for those within the scheme.
Together, these achievements showcase the positive impact of Merseyrail's people, from delivering excellent services for customers to supporting local communities and making a real difference across the Liverpool City Region.
Interim Managing Director of Merseyrail, Suzanne Grant, said:
"To be named Passenger Operator of the Year is an incredible achievement. This award is recognition of the hard work, commitment and professionalism that our colleagues show every single day. Whether supporting customers, keeping services running, working with our communities or improving the experience of travelling on our network, everyone at Merseyrail has played a part in this success."
"To also be highly commended in both Outstanding Teamwork and Outstanding Contribution to Society makes this recognition even more special. These achievements demonstrate the strength of our people, our culture and our shared commitment to making a positive difference for our customers, communities and each other."
Chief Executive Officer at Transport UK, Dominic Booth, said:
"We are immensely proud to see Merseyrail recognised as Passenger Operator of the Year on the national stage, following a remarkable year. Merseyrail is proof of what happens when expert teams and targeted investments come together to bring real value to passengers and communities across the Liverpool City Region. From launching the new Digital Tap & Go system, which has already reached 2 million journeys, to building on £1.4bn in social value generated, this recognition is a testament to the extraordinary hard work of the entire team. Transport UK, in our joint venture with Serco, is proud to drive and support the continued success across the Merseyrail network.”
Managing Director of Serco’s Transport operations, Simon Bailey, said:
“It is an honour for Merseyrail to be named Passenger Operator of the Year and makes me extremely proud of the dedicated colleagues who strive every day to deliver for passengers. It has been a privilege to operate Merseyrail for over 20 years, and we are consistently the best performing train company in the country and this further recognition is a credit to everyone involved in delivering for people across Liverpool and Merseyside.”
