Monday April 20th 2026
ScotRail staff helping passengers travelling to the Oasis reunion at Murrayfield last summer (credit: ScotRail)
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Scotland’s Railway has struck double gold at a prestigious annual rail awards ceremony.
The Rail Industry Planning Awards showcase excellence in train planning, featuring best practice and strengthening the professional railway community.
At a glittering occasion earlier this week in Leeds, Scotland’s national train operator came out top in Strategic or Long-Term Planning Team of the Year.
Judges said, “With a host of major projects including East Kilbride electrification, ScotRail’s teams managed to improve performance and increase frequencies without requiring additional rolling stock and crews.”
Teamwork between ScotRail and Network Rail Scotland was recognised by winning the Event Plan of the Year award.
According to judges, “Oasis’ three concerts at Murrayfield coincided with the peak of the Edinburgh Festival, but Scotland’s Railway cleverly integrated demand for both, and offered additional trains to get people to and from the events safely.”
Train planners sit at the heart of the rail industry, creating high-performing timetables and resource plans that benefit both passengers and freight customers.
By connecting people and goods efficiently, train planners play a crucial role in helping the economy and communities to thrive now and in the future.
Scotland’s Railway is also supporting the country’s biggest cultural and sporting occasions by running extra services at almost 60 per cent more major events since returning to public ownership. This is in no small part down to the contribution of the Special Events team, which works closely with planners to ensure ScotRail creates and delivers the best plans possible.
The Special Events team was instrumental in coordinating train transport for events such as the Edinburgh Festivals, Taylor Swift, Oasis and AC/DC concerts, and other large-scale gatherings, like rugby and football matches.
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said:
“The dedicated staff in our train planning team work tirelessly to schedule our services, sometimes in the face of the most challenging weather conditions, complex engineering works, and massive events.
“I am incredibly proud of the way they deliver twice-yearly timetable changes, requiring months of planning, but also pivot quickly to make sure as many services as possible are available to customers when short notice incidents like extreme weather take place.
“It’s a measure of their resilience and professionalism and I am grateful for their continued contribution to making Scotland’s Railway safer and more reliable for our customers.”
Ross Moran, Route Director at Network Rail Scotland, said:
“Our planning teams work behind the scenes, carefully balancing competing demands to make sure passengers stay safe and the railway runs reliably.
“Recognition like this means a lot and reflects the strong partnership we have with ScotRail.
“It acknowledges the care, teamwork, and commitment that keep the railway moving day in, day out, and the way our teams step up to support Scotland’s biggest moments.
“I’m incredibly proud of everyone involved and the important role they play.”
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