The Chartered Institution of Railway Operators (CIRO) has won the Railway Innovation Award for Small Scale Project for its Delivering Operational Performance learning suite, recognising an industry-wide initiative that is helping organisations across the UK’s railway strengthen operational performance through collaboration, communication and whole-system thinking.

CIRO was also Highly Commended in the People, Skills and Diversity category for its Integrated Railway Operations Leadership Scheme (IROLS), recognising a second innovative initiative designed to develop the next generation of operational leaders through whole-system learning and cross-industry collaboration.

Presented at the Modern Railways Railway Innovation Awards on 3 July, the Small-Scale Project Award celebrates projects that may be modest in scale but deliver an outstanding contribution to the railway industry. CIRO received the award for its suite of role-specific learning resources, developed at the request of Network Rail, through the Industry Performance Innovation Fund (IPIF). Designed for use across the entire rail industry, the resources provide practical tools to support safer, more punctual and more reliable railway operations by helping colleagues understand how everyday decisions influence performance across the wider network.

The Delivering Operational Performance suite comprises eight short, white-label animated videos, supported by structured discussion guides, covering:

· Stations

· Depots and Stabling Locations

· Infrastructure

· On-board Staff

· Drivers

· Signalling and Control

· Planning and Resourcing

· Freight Operations

Together, the resources encourage colleagues to look beyond their individual role and understand how their actions affect the wider railway. By reinforcing the importance of communication, collaboration and proactive decision-making across operational interfaces, they help build a shared understanding that every role matters in delivering a safe, reliable and high-performing railway.

CIRO said unlike traditional training materials, the suite has been deliberately designed as generic, white-label resources, allowing train operators, freight operators, Network Rail and other organisations to adopt and brand the materials locally while complementing, rather than replacing, existing company standards and procedures. The accompanying discussion guides encourage face-to-face, manager-led conversations using local scenarios, helping teams translate the learning into practical improvements in day-to-day operations.

Since their launch, the Delivering Operational Performance resources have been made freely available to the rail industry through CIRO and can be accessed at: https://www.ciro.org/delivering-operational-performance-new-cross-industry-learning-resources-launched/

The resources are also hosted by Network Rail and the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) to support consistent adoption across the sector. Their long-term success will be monitored through the RDG Tactical Operations Plan, measuring industry engagement, adoption and operational impact.

Phil Sherratt, Chief Executive of CIRO, said: “We’re incredibly proud that Delivering Operational Performance has been recognised with the Railway Innovation Award for Small Scale Project. The project was born from a simple ambition—to create practical, engaging resources that every rail organisation could use to strengthen whole-system thinking and encourage meaningful conversations about operational performance.

“This recognition belongs to our colleagues at CIRO, our partners at Network Rail and the many industry representatives whose expertise and commitment helped bring this project to life. It demonstrates what can be achieved when the industry works together to solve shared challenges. By sharing knowledge, encouraging collaboration and supporting professional development, we are helping to shape the future of rail, together.

“We were also delighted to be recognised for piloting the Integrated Railway Operations Leadership Scheme, a bold new initiative that is supporting the industry to develop leaders with track-train experience.”

Holly Hancock, Business Development & Project Manager at CIRO, who coordinated the development of the learning suite, said: “From the outset, we wanted to create something that was practical, accessible and genuinely useful for the whole industry. By making the resources white-label and discussion-led, organisations can easily incorporate them into their own briefing programmes while reinforcing consistent messages around operational performance.

“To see Delivering Operational Performance recognised with the Railway Innovation Award for Small Scale Project is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the collaborative effort behind its development. We hope the resources continue to support meaningful conversations, inspire new ways of working together and ultimately help deliver better outcomes for passengers, freight customers and colleagues across the railway.”

Representing more than 14,000 rail professionals, CIRO continues to work with industry partners to develop practical, industry-led initiatives that improve operational capability, strengthen professional development and deliver lasting benefits for Britain’s railway—shaping the future of rail, together.