Station Managers Global Group
The Station Managers Global Group (SMGG) serves as an incubator for station-related projects, fostering innovation through best practice exchanges, studies, and events. SMGG supports the transformation of stations into sustainable, digitalized, and high-value assets for customers and cities.
More information about the sector is available here.
Railway Stations Awards 2025
In 2025, SMGG sector of UIC decided to create a Railway Stations Award, to highlight and promote specific initiatives and projects initiated by Station Managers. The main objectives are:
- Foster collaboration among railway stations operators, creating opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange.
- Acknowledge and celebrate outstanding practices among UIC members, highlighting exemplary initiatives by railway stations operators.
- Promote the initiatives and achievements of the Station Managers Global Group (SMGG), underlining their role in advancing sustainable and innovative station management practices worldwide through the UIC Vision 2030.
Each Permanent Working Group of SMGG sector suggested topics for the Award (4 nominations in total).
Categories:
Station & Urban Design:
- Climate change adaptation
- Resilience
- Green materials
Facility Management & Operation:
- Crowd management strategy
- Preparation of big events
- Safety & security
Retail & Commercial Affairs:
- Customer experience
- Innovative retail in stations
Small Stations:
- Effective management of small stations portfolio
- Developing potential of small stations
- Stakeholder management
Why apply for the Railway Stations Awards?
Applying for the Railway Stations Awards 2025 offers a unique opportunity for visibility and recognition within the global railway community. Organized by the Station Managers Global Group (SMGG) under UIC, the awards not only celebrate excellence in station management but also provide a platform to showcase innovative projects to a global audience.
Why Apply?
✅ International Recognition
Winning or being shortlisted in the awards positions your project at the forefront of best practices in railway station management, reinforcing your expertise among peers and stakeholders.
✅ Visibility through UIC & SMGG
Your project will gain exposure via UIC’s extensive network, reaching railway operators, infrastructure managers, and urban mobility experts worldwide. SMGG, as a key UIC working group, plays a leading role in shaping the future of railway stations, ensuring your work is recognized at the highest levels.
✅ Spotlight at the Biggest Railway Congress
The awards will be showcased at a major UIC event, Worls Congress for High-Speed Rail in Beijing, China, where winners will have the opportunity to present their initiatives to an audience of industry leaders, policymakers, and fellow professionals.
✅ Networking & Knowledge Exchange
The awards foster collaboration among railway station operators, opening doors to new partnerships, funding opportunities, and innovative solutions that can be applied across different rail networks.
By applying, you not only gain recognition but also contribute to the advancement of sustainable and innovative railway station management worldwide.
Application process
Apply here: https://uic.org/event/railway-station-award-2025/
All UIC members can apply for the Railway Station Awards. Multiple submissions for different categories are accepted.
Application Deadline: All projects/initiatives must be submitted by 1 June 2025
There will be two rounds for selection:
1st round: Online submission (the applicant should fill the form online and provide the details of the projects and the evidence of their influence on the company),
2nd round: Short-listed candidates will be invited to present online pitches (10 min) before the jury.
Selection criteria
1. All nominations will be reviewed to ensure they are complete, meet eligibility requirements, and comply with the application guidelines.
2. Judges will assess applications in each category based on the following criteria:
30% Contribution to railway station development. Focus on projects that enhance connectivity, functionality, and passenger experience, with higher scores for addressing multiple objectives.
30% Longevity, Scalability, and Replicability. Potential to drive lasting improvements, expand to other locations, or serve as a model for future initiatives.
20% Innovation and Originality. The initiative introduces a novel or creative approach to station management.
20% Staff and/or Community Engagement. Level of collaboration, communication, and involvement of key stakeholders in the station’s development or operations.
These scores will determine the shortlist for each category.
3. Shortlisted applications will be reviewed further during a short presentation to the judges, where a winner will be selected.
4. Final rankings will be compiled for each category, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend the awards ceremony.
5. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, held during 12th UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail on July 8-11, 2025 in Beijing, China. The ceremony will be moderated by Fabrice Morenon, SMGG Chair, and Paul Van Doninck, SMGG Vice-Chair.