Rail Tourism For a Sustainable Transformation
Meet the Finalists of the UIC TopRail Awards
Railways are redefining the future of travel — not just as a mode of transport, but as a driver of sustainable tourism. The UIC TopRail “Tourist-Friendly Rail Services and Experiences” Awards celebrate rail operators who are elevating the tourist journey through innovation, inclusion, and environmental responsibility. This year’s finalists embody the 2025 UN Tourism theme, showcasing how rail can support local communities, preserve heritage, and inspire meaningful change. Join us as we spotlight the most creative and impactful rail tourism initiatives from around the world.
Tourist-Friendly Rolling Stock Category
This award recognises coaches and/or trains that enhance the travel experience with innovative services and experiences on board. From panoramic windows and comfortable seating to accessible facilities and onboard amenities, this category celebrates designs that make rail journeys unforgettable. Whether through heritage restorations, sustainable solutions, or modern features, nominees in this category exemplify how rolling stock and on-board services can elevate rail tourism worldwide.
The Finalists are:
- Saudi Arabia Night Railways: A Sustainable Journey Through Time and Desert
- Panda Train: Heritage, Nature Comfort & Low-Carbon Travel
- El Al-Andalus: 40 Years of Luxury Rail Tourism
- Núria Rack Railway: Gateway to the Pyrenees
- “The Lighthouse Route”: Bringing Hidden Gems to the Rails
- ZSSK: Exploring the Tatras with Sustainability in Mind
Our T-F Rolling Stock Long Distance Finalists
Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR): North Night Train
A Sustainable Journey Through Time and Desert
A journey by SAR Train through Saudi Arabia’s ancient heritage, where every rail connects culture, nature, and breathtaking landscapes, with a tourist friendly train that can offer Transportation and accommodation.
Running along a 1,250 km route between Riyadh and Qurayyat, SAR’s Night Trains feature 280 seats, 96 sleeper beds, a Restaurant Coach, Luggage Coach and 4 Car Cargo coaches allowing passengers to transport their car on board the same train. SAR’s innovative Car Cargo service removes over 21,000 cars from the road annually, reducing 6.7m kg of CO₂ emissions – providing a sustainable alternative to long-distance driving or flying.
Panda Train: Heritage, Nature Comfort & Low-Carbon Travel
The “Panda Train” is a themed tourist train curated by China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd, featuring panda-inspired designs infused with the rich cultural heritage of Southwest China. Designed for unparalleled comfort, functionality, and intelligent amenities, every aspect—from hardware to software—has been elevated to redefine modern travel.
As the flagship of the series, the “Panda Train · Chengdu” is Southwest China’s first premium panda-themed train. It boasts acoustic insulation technology for a serene journey, with cabins featuring private bathrooms, smart home systems, and versatile spaces tailored for both social leisure and family trips. Centered on delivering exceptional rail travel experiences, it offers immersive cultural engagement and sustainable travel options—transcending mere transportation to fulfill the desire for meaningful and memorable journeys.
El Al-Andalus: 40 Years of Luxury Rail Tourism
For four decades, Al-Andalus has set the benchmark for luxury rail experiences. Combining Belle Époque elegance with modern comfort and a strong network of cultural and regional partnerships, it continues to showcase how rail tourism can celebrate heritage while adapting to evolving standards of sustainability and inclusion.
Our T-F Rolling Stock Short Distance Finalists
Núria Rack Railway: Gateway to the Pyrenees
Visit Vall de Núria, a magical valley only accessible by rack railway. Núria Rack Railway is the quintessential transport of the Vall de Ribes and the only way to access the mountain resort of Vall de Núria. Trains operate daily, all year round. The journey by Rack Railway is a unique experience: from the very first moment you’ll experience a world of sensations as you enjoy the beauty and spectacle of this singular landscape and natural environment.
ZSSK : Exploring the Tatras with Sustainability in Mind
The hybrid rolling stock combines updated facilities for sports equipment, maps, and on-board tourist information with lightweight, energy-efficient hybrid rolling stock. Passengers are encouraged to explore less-frequented areas while learning about the region’s natural heritage, demonstrating how rail tourism can educate, inspire, and mitigate environmental impact.
ZSSK supports the development of tourism, especially in the unique environment of the High Tatras. The modern hybrid 495 “electric cog” units and modernised 425 electric units operating daily in the High Tatras, provide visitors with an environmentally friendly, comfortable, and affordable alternative for travelling in the mountain area.
Renfe Galicia “The Lighthouse Route”: Bringing Hidden Gems to the Rails
By creatively reusing and adapting short-distance rolling stock to tourist needs, Renfe Galicia connects travellers with less-visited destinations, local artisans, and rural landscapes. One-day rail tourist products, created in cooperation with local and regional actors showcase how rail tourism can enrich regional culture while supporting sustainable travel.
Tourist-Friendly Railway Stations Category
This award recognises rail stations that go above and beyond to create seamless, hassle-free experiences for travellers. A tourist-friendly station isn’t just a transit hub for commuters—it’s a gateway to exploration, offering services and facilities that cater to one-time visitors’ needs while showcasing local culture and hospitality.
Nominees in this category excel in accessibility, clear signage, and seamless connections, making journeys smoother and more enjoyable. From welcoming architecture and sustainable design to unique amenities like cultural displays, local cuisine, or tailored travel information, these stations enrich the travel experience and leave a lasting impression.
Whether nestled in bustling cities or scenic rural areas, railway stations play a key role in making rail travel memorable, fostering a sense of place, and encouraging tourism. Large stations serve as major transit hubs, connecting long-distance, regional, and international travellers, while small stations are vital links for local and regional traffic, often providing access to hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path destinations. Both types of stations contribute uniquely to enhancing the rail travel experience.
The Finalists are:
- Szklarska Poręba Górna Station, Poland: Heritage Meets Modern Tourism
- EFE Chinchorro Station, Chile: Gateway to Sustainable Rail Tourism
- Korea’s Global Rail Hub: Connecting People. Bridging Worlds. Forging the Future
Our T-F Large Station Finalist
KTX Gwangmyeong Station
Korea’s Global Rail Hub: Connecting People. Bridging Worlds. Forging the Future.
KTX Gwangmyeong station is a key high-speed rail hub served by Gyeongbu and Honam KTX lines, connecting major cities like Busan, Gwangju, and Daegu.
KORAIL is testing an AI robot platform at KTX Gwangmyeong Station, delivering interactive guidance, luggage handling, and mobility support.
It also features a City Airport Terminal, allowing check-in, baggage drop-off, and immigration before reaching Incheon Airport.
With cutting-edge robotics, strong rail connectivity, and seamless airport links, Gwangmyeong Station embodies Korea’s vision of a global rail hub—connecting people, bridging worlds, forging the future.
Our T-F Small Station Finalists
Chinchorro Station
Chinchorro Station: Gateway to Sustainable Rail Tourism
Chinchorro Station is the carefully restored starting point of the Arica–La Paz railway. It combines museum spaces, resting areas, and local coffee and snack stands, featuring energy-efficient lighting and responsible water use as well as local, draught resistant vegetation. With accessibility features, reduced rates for seniors and children, and partnerships with local entrepreneurs, it sets a high standard for sustainable, inclusive, and community-focused railway infrastructure.
Szklarska Poręba Górna Station: Heritage Meets Modern Tourism
Purpose-designed as a tourist attraction, Szklarska Poręba Górna Station blends careful heritage restoration with thoughtful inclusive solutions that balance commercial, logistical, and visitor needs.
It demonstrates that a railway station can be so much more than transport infrastructure. It’s a gateway to adventure, a cultural landmark, a driver of sustainable tourism, and a symbol of cooperation between history and modernity.
Tourist-Friendly Railway Station Passenger Lounge Category
This award highlights exceptional railway station lounges that redefine comfort and convenience for travellers. A tourist-friendly lounge provides more than a waiting area—it offers a welcoming retreat where passengers can relax, recharge, and plan their journeys.
Nominees in this category excel in creating an inviting atmosphere through thoughtful design, premium amenities, and seamless services. From comfortable seating and local culinary offerings to accessible facilities and digital conveniences like Wi-Fi and charging stations, these lounges set a new standard for traveller satisfaction.
Whether tailored for luxury, family needs, or cultural immersion, these spaces reflect the railway’s commitment to enhancing the overall travel experience, turning a stop into a memorable part of the journey.
The Finalists are:
- FrecciaLounges Roma & Milano: Italian Hospitality Meets Sustainability
- Budapest Keleti Station Premium Lounge: Comfort with a Sustainable Touch
- LTG Link Vilnius Railway Station VIP Lounge: Innovating the passenger experience
Our T-F Railway Station Passenger Lounge Finalists
FrecciaLounges Roma & Milano: the ideal place to start your train trip in maximum comfort!
Trenitalia’s FrecciaLounges at Roma Termini and Milano Centrale combine refined Italian design, authentic hospitality, and green innovation, elevating the lounge experience while encouraging multimodality with seamless connectivity to international airports. With plastic-free, high-quality local products, vertical gardens, and inclusive services such as LIS video interpreting, child assistance and menus catering to diverse dietary restrictions, they set a new benchmark for sustainable and welcoming rail travel.
FrecciaLounges Roma & Milano: the ideal place to start your train trip in maximum comfort!
Trenitalia’s FrecciaLounges at Roma Termini and Milano Centrale combine refined Italian design, authentic hospitality, and green innovation, elevating the lounge experience while encouraging multimodality with seamless connectivity to international airports. With plastic-free, high-quality local products, vertical gardens, and inclusive services such as LIS video interpreting, child assistance and menus catering to diverse dietary restrictions, they set a new benchmark for sustainable and welcoming rail travel.
Budapest Keleti Station Premium Lounge: Comfort with a Sustainable Touch
MÁV’s Premium Lounge at Budapest Keleti blends comfort, culture, and sustainability. With seat-side service, smart charging, secure luggage storage, and multilingual travel resources, it makes journeys smoother. Waste reduction, porcelain tableware, and a partnership with the Hungarian Tourism Agency highlight a responsible and welcoming approach for all travellers.
Tourist-Friendly Railway Lines Category
This award recognises the vision and effort of companies that reimagine their rail routes, showcasing their tourist potential and creating added value for leisure travellers.
Nominees in this category seamlessly combine functionality with breathtaking landscapes, remarkable cultural heritage, and/or unique local experiences along the route. Whether by providing access to iconic attractions or implementing innovative strategies to highlight the tourist value of their regions, and make their tourist attractions more accessible, these railway lines go the extra mile to captivate travellers.
A tourist-friendly railway line reflects thoughtful planning – such as well-coordinated timetables, convenient stops, and engaging communication of the route’s attractions. These efforts enhance the travel experience and invite passengers to discover the charm of their destinations in a way only rail travel can deliver.
This category honours railway lines that inspire tourists to explore the world by train, celebrating the creativity and dedication that turns a rail journey into a destination in itself.
The Finalists are:
- Arica–La Paz Heritage Line-EFE: History, Nature & Community
- Tuscany Line – Trenitalia Regionale: Heritage, Nature & Sustainable Travel
- Beira Baixa Line – CP: Scenic Railway Line Through Heritage and Nature
Our T-F Railway Lines Finalists
Beira Baixa Line – CP: Scenic Railway Line Through Heritage and Nature
The Beira Baixa Line offers travellers 240 km of electrified rail through UNESCO-listed sites, rivers, mountains, and historic towns between Entroncamento and Guarda. CP enhances the tourist value of the line with services like the fully booked Tagus Vintage Train, Fundão Cherry Circuit, and Cherry Trees in Blossom Circuit, combining restored rolling stock, cultural visits, and local experiences. Electric traction supports sustainable tourism, while.
Tuscany Line – Trenitalia Regionale: Tuscany world heritage: a voyage with Trenitalia Regionale train
Trenitalia’s Tuscany Line connects Florence, Pisa, and other iconic Tuscan destinations, offering travellers a scenic journey through UNESCO-listed cities, historic towns, and rolling countryside. Modern double-decker trains with e-bike facilities, multimodal connections, and the “Italia in Tour” pass make exploring the famously tourist region convenient and immersive. Energy-efficient trains, digital information and paperless ticketing support sustainable tourism, while family-friendly facilities and Italian Sign Language services ensure inclusivity for all passengers.
Arica–La Paz Heritage Line: History, Nature & Community
EFE’s Arica–La Paz line brings Chile’s northern heritage to life with restored vintage rolling stock and immersive routes—from archaeological sites and desert landscapes to star-gazing journeys at 1,400m. With solar-powered support equipment, partnerships with local entrepreneurs, restored stations, partnerships with tour operators and educational experiences, EFE themed tourist operations blend culture, sustainability, and community engagement while giving a new life to an historic line.
Tourist-Friendly Railway Initiative or Product Global Category
The Global category looks to highlight initiatives and tourist products that contribute to enhance the tourist traveller experience and create awareness of rail tourism as the preferred way of exploring destinations.
This award celebrates outstanding achievements that create unforgettable experiences and transform the way travellers experience rail journeys. It recognizes initiatives and products that go beyond traditional offerings.
Whether it’s a groundbreaking innovation, an immersive cultural offering, or an exceptional service enhancement, this category honours efforts that elevate rail travel into a memorable and meaningful adventure.
Nominees in this category stand out for their creativity, customer-centric approach, and commitment to excellence. From unique travel experiences, inspiring partnerships, immersive experiences, to initiatives that improve accessibility, sustainability, inclusion or service quality, the “Best Rail Tourism Product or Initiative” award highlights projects that elevate rail tourism and makes it more attractive for global audiences, setting new benchmarks for the industry.
The Finalists are:
- ÖBB Nightjet – Europe’s Overnight Travel, Reimagined
- SBB Gotthard Panorama Express – Redefining Rail Tourism in Switzerland
- Trenord “Gite in Treno”, Italy: Rail as the Gateway to Leisure
Our T-F Initiative or Product Finalists
SBB Gotthard Panorama Express –
Redefining Rail Tourism in Switzerland
When travelling becomes an experience – discover history on the Gotthard Panorama Express! A unique combination of boat and train journey on the route between Central Switzerland and Ticino.
The Gotthard Panorama Express combines rail and boat travel to showcase Switzerland’s landscapes, history, and culture in a unique, multimodal experience focused on tourist experiences. With purpose-made panoramic coaches, multilingual guides, storytelling, sustainable operations powered by renewable energy, and partnerships from local producers to national tourism boards, it sets a new benchmark for immersive and environmentally responsible rail tourism. Gotthard Panorama Express is part of the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland.
Trenord “Gite in Treno”, Italy: Rail as the Gateway to Leisure
In Lombardy, Trenord has turned regional trains into a driver of tourism with Gite in Treno: integrated bundles that combine train travel with lakes, ski resorts, cultural sites, parks, and major events. Built on strong partnerships and digital accessibility, the model makes sustainable travel affordable, reduces congestion and CO₂ emissions, and sets a replicable benchmark for rail tourism across Italy.
ÖBB Nightjet – Europe’s Overnight Travel, Reimagined
ÖBB’s new-generation Nightjet have brought back night trains in style. Modern interiors, private mini cabins, family and business compartments, and fully accessible spaces make every overnight journey comfortable and relaxing again. Accommodating up to 254 passengers, Nightjet innovative services connect Europe with ease—powered entirely by renewable energy. Award-winning Austrian design, smart luggage solutions, and seamless partnerships with airlines and tourism boards make every trip smooth, stylish, and eco-friendly.
