Alstom has been recognised for The Greatest Gathering after receiving an Outstanding Contribution award at the Made in the Midlands Awards 2026. The ceremony, which highlights achievements across the region’s manufacturing sector, took place on Thursday, 23 April at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel.

Staged in August 2025 to mark 200 years of the modern railway, The Greatest Gathering was held at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works. The three-day event attracted more than 40,000 rail enthusiasts, with over 140 rail vehicles on display.

The event also marked the first public opening of the Derby works in almost 50 years and raised in excess of £100,000 for charitable causes.

Delivery of the festival relied on approximately 500 Alstom volunteers, alongside several hundred contributors from across the rail and heritage sectors, including the National Railway Museum and Network Rail.

The Greatest Gathering has already secured multiple industry honours, including recognition at the Young Rail Professionals Awards 2026 and the RailStaff Awards 2025. Additional accolades include a Special Award at the Golden Whistles and a bronze tourism award in Derbyshire.

Following its regional success, Alstom will progress to the Made in the UK Awards 2026, scheduled for Thursday, 19 November at the Science and Industry Museum.

“To receive an Outstanding Contribution award is a huge honour for everyone involved in delivering The Greatest Gathering. What started as an ambitious idea quickly became a truly collective effort, bringing together colleagues, partners, volunteers and the wider ‘railway family’ to celebrate 200 years of transport innovation in the place where so much of that history has been made,”

“Opening our Derby Litchurch Lane Works to the public for the first time in nearly half a century was incredibly special. Seeing tens of thousands of people engage with rail’s past, present and future – while raising significant funds for good causes – is a testament to the passion, pride and teamwork that sits at the heart of Alstom. This recognition belongs to everyone who helped make The Greatest Gathering such a memorable and meaningful event.”

Kathryn Lancaster, Communications Manager at Alstom and co-organiser of The Greatest Gathering.