At this year’s Railway Industry Supplier Excellence (RISE) Awards, Eversholt Rail and Transport Design International’s Revolution Very Light Rail (RVLR) was named the winner in the Innovation category.

The RISE awards are held annually by the Railway Industry Association (RIA), with this year’s awards being held last Thursday, 29th June. They celebrate the excellence and achievements of the UK rail supply sector across 11 categories. Further details about the awards and the shortlisted categories can be found here.

Eversholt’s Innovation award recognises that its Revolution Very Light Rail is both innovative and a cost-effective solution, and has the potential to bring benefits to Britain’s railways.

This year over 90 entries were submitted in 11 categories, with the winners chosen by an independent judging panel of senior industry figures.

Among other winners was Andy Lord, who as Transport for London Commissioner picked up the ‘Client of the Year’ Award, which the Railway Industry Association Board considered to be the rail client individual who over the past year had done the most to deliver rail in their area and build strong supplier relationships.

Over 400 people attended the Dinner and Awards ceremony, which was hosted by comedian, broadcaster and former political advisor, Ayesha Hazarika MBE. The event was held at the Intercontinental Park Lane in Central London. It featured keynote speeches from Rail & HS2 Minister, Huw Merriman MP, and RIA’s Chief Executive Darren Caplan and Chairman David Tonkin.

As part of the evening’s ceremony guests were entertained by a troupe of classically trained ballerinas called the ‘Fireflies’ who performed in custom-made LED tutus, a violinist, and a DJ. A charity raffle was also held in aid of the Railway Mission.

The Railway Industry Association speaks for the UK rail supply community, helping to grow a sustainable and high-performing railway supply industry and to export Britain’s rail expertise and products.

“The judges said the winner of the Innovation Award provides a straightforward solution to a large problem of reducing the cost of rail.”

RIA Marketing & Events Manager, Grace Smithen, commented: “We would like to congratulate all the rail suppliers and individuals who have been shortlisted for the RIA RISE Awards.

“After receiving a record number of entries, our judges said they were impressed with the high calibre of submissions right across the board.”

Elsewhere, Eversholt Rail is sponsoring the Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery exhibition at the National Railway Museum for the next five years.