Launched in 2024, in honour of Tom O’Connor, founder of Rail Media and visionary behind the RailStaff Awards, the Rail Ambassador Award celebrates those who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to promoting and advancing the rail industry.
The Award honours the individuals who champion the industry, serve as positive advocates, inspire others, and help to drive positive change.
Maro Sakpere, a fleet service engineer at Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), received the award in 2025. From station assistant to service engineer, Maro has built a remarkable career defined by advocacy, inclusion, and mentorship. A winner of CIRO’s Multicultural Apprenticeship Award, he champions diversity through leadership, mentoring, and employee engagement.
Maro’s work inspires colleagues from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue rail careers and achieve their potential. Recognised nationally for his impact, he continues to drive meaningful cultural change across the industry, making rail a more inclusive and empowering place for all.
This year, the Award was LNER, the publicly owned by operator on a mission to transform rail travel. Its modern Azuma fleet of trains continue more than a hundred years of LNER tradition – setting new, higher standards in comfort, reliability and customer experience.
LNER calls at more than 50 stations along almost a thousand miles on the East Coast route, including major towns and cities between London, the East Midlands, Yorkshire, the North East of England, and Scotland.
Highly commended:
Camille Parchment, Avanti West Coast
Gregory March, Network Rail
Back next year
We have exciting sponsorship opportunities available for the 2026 awards.
If you’re interested in discussing this further or would like to put forward nominations from your team for future awards, please feel free to contact us by email at sales@rail-media.com or call us on 01530 816 440.
You can also find out more and view the upcoming pictures and videos from the evening by visiting our website www.RailStaffAwards.com.
