The record-breaking Railway 200 event, The Greatest Gathering, is in line for four awards at the National Rail Awards in September and the National Transport Awards in October.

Nominated for awards at this year’s National Rail Awards are Alstom’s Communications Manager Kathryn Lancaster, for her Outstanding Personal Contribution, and The Greatest Gathering, for the Railway 200 Event of the Year.

Kathryn joined Alstom’s predecessor in 1988, and she has been largely responsible for improving the company’s communications, culminating in her organising Alstom’s The Greatest Gathering in August 2025, which became the world’s largest-ever railway festival.

Specially created for this year only at the 2026 National Rail Awards is a category for The Railway 200 Event of the Year. With Railway 200 celebrating the bicentenary of the modern railway, the award recognises those who were instrumental in bringing Railway 200 to a wider audience.

At the National Transport Awards in October, The Greatest Gathering has been nominated for the Campaign of the Year, whilst the World’s first Pride parade on a train, which took place at The Greatest Gathering in August, has been nominated for Best Practice in Diversity, Inclusivity and Accessibility.

The World’s first Pride parade on a train was held at The Greatest Gathering on Saturday, 2nd August 2025, and featured LGBTQ+ colleagues from across the UK rail industry marching together to highlight rail’s proud commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

The National Rail Awards are often described as the ‘railway Oscars’, and are organised by the railway magazine, Rail. They recognise people, projects, and organisations who have delivered real, measurable impact in driving progress across the railway industry.

Alstom has also been recognised for further awards resulting from The Greatest Gathering, including an Outstanding Contribution award at the Made in the Midlands Awards 2026.

“We’re incredibly proud to see The Greatest Gathering recognised once again through these prestigious national award nominations. The event captured the imagination of railway enthusiasts, families, colleagues and industry partners alike, celebrating 200 years of railway innovation while inspiring the next generation to consider a career in rail. To be shortlisted across both the National Rail Awards and National Transport Awards is a wonderful testament to the dedication, creativity and collaboration of everyone involved.@I’m also especially delighted to see Kathryn Lancaster nominated for Outstanding Personal Contribution. Kathryn has help shaped the story of Derby Litchurch Lane Works for decades, and her passion, professionalism and commitment were instrumental in making The Greatest Gathering such a remarkable success. This recognition is richly deserved and reflects the impact she has had not only at Alstom but across the wider rail industry.”

Ben Goodwin, Communications Director, UK and Ireland, Alstom