TopRail: Tourist-Friendly Awards & QR code
TopRail Initiative
TopRail (Tourism Opportunities for Railways) is an initiative by the International Union of Railways (UIC) that promotes and develops rail tourism worldwide. It aims to position rail transport as a sustainable, comfortable, and attractive option for tourists, fostering cooperation among railway operators, tourism boards, and stakeholders.
TopRail’s objectives include:
- Encouraging railway companies to improve their tourism-related services.
- Highlighting rail travel as an essential part of the tourism experience.
- Supporting best practices and innovative tourism products in the railway sector.
- TopRail organises events, discussions, and projects, including the TopRail Awards, to recognize excellence in railway tourism services and infrastructure.
See more information about TopRail Initiative here.
Classification and Categorisation system for Tourist-friendly Railway Services and Experiences
The Classification and Categorisation system developed within the TopRail sector serves as a framework to assess railway services and infrastructure based on their suitability for tourism. It defines key elements of the passenger journey and outlines the criteria for the TopRail Awards.
The system organises the elements of a rail tourism experience into separate, distinct components, which are then separately assessed, ensuring a structured approach to evaluation. It also provides checklists and scoring methods to assess the quality and impact of each service or infrastructure component.
TopRail Tourist-Friendly Report
See more information here.
Tourist-Friendly Railway Services and Experiences Awards
What are the TopRail Tourist-Friendly Awards?
The awards seek to recognise and elevate efforts by rail operators that enhance the experience of rail tourists by creating services and infrastructures that are user-friendly, innovative, and aligned with sustainable tourism practices.
Who can participate?
The awards are open to UIC members. Companies can submit one application for each category.
What are the categories?
Since the tourist experience consists of multiple interdependent elements, the evaluation process takes a holistic approach. However, for clarity, the experience is segmented into six key categories that will be able to measure using T-F categorisation system plus one global category for “Best Rail Tourism Initiative or Product.”
The categories are:
- Tourist-friendly rolling stock, service and on-board experience Short Distance (journeys up to 2.5 hours)
- Tourist-friendly rolling stock, service and on-board experience Long Distance (journeys over 2.5 hours)
- Tourist-friendly railway Line
- Tourist-friendly small railway stations
- Tourist-friendly large/main railway station
- Tourist-friendly railway station Lounge
- Best Rail Tourism Initiative or Product
UIC TopRail Tourist-Friendly Awards
How to Apply?
Click on each category to read the description. If your proposal fits the general criteria, click on the corresponding button under the description to go to the application form. Read the instructions carefully and keep in mind that the forms allow you to enclose links to pictures, videos, social media, etc., that can support your nomination.
Before you start the process, and for your convenience, we are adding PDF worksheets so that you can collect the necessary information before starting the questionnaire. Kindly use the PDF forms as worksheets only to gather data; they are not to be submitted but can be used as a reference or for copy-pasting when you fill out the questionnaire.
Press the button below to start the process.
How do we judge?
The panel will review replies to the check list, which assesses how rail operators take tourist’s needs into account through thoughtful adaptions and/or innovative solutions that improve comfort, convenience and accessibility through on-board service, enhancing the experience and elevating rail tourism as a memorable way to explore a destination.
Nominations must comply with all of standard requirements and at least half of the excellence requirements. Links to pictures, video, social media posts, websites or other documents can be added to each box to support the nomination.
In case of a tie-in, the panel will take into account other evidence submitted in the Optional section of the application form.
Please read carefully and fill in the information required in each section.
Judging Process and Evaluation Criteria:
The TopRail Awards aim to highlight and celebrate outstanding contributions to rail tourism, reinforcing the role of trains as a key component of sustainable and memorable travel experiences.
First Round
For categories 1-6, the evaluation follows a checklist-based approach, ensuring that candidates meet a predefined excellence threshold.
For category 7, criteria are determined based on specific tourism impact factors.
Selection Process
The UIC conducts an initial review based on the established criteria.
Shortlisted candidates are forwarded to the jury.
No more than 2-3 finalists per category are selected. There will be at least one finalist in each category, leading to a total of 5-10 finalists.
Second Round
Finalists will present a 10 min pitch before the jury.
Additional aspects evaluated in this round include:
- Impact (contribution to tourism and sustainability)
- Clarity (effectiveness of the project’s presentation and implementation)
For the Tourist-friendly categories, the jury will check that submissions comply with the requirements for the Excellence tourist-friendly category, as indicated in each form.
- In case of a tie-in, evidence of innovation, environmental sustainability, cooperation & partnerships and inclusion will be taken into account. (See forms for detailed criteria)
- For the Global category, the jury will examine evidence supporting the contribution of the initiative or product to the wider impact of rail tourism, assessing innovation, environmental sustainability, cooperation & partnerships and inclusion in each nomination. (See form for detailed criteria and weight
Application Deadline: All projects/initiatives must be submitted by 24 July, 2025
The presentation ceremony will be held on 16 October 2025 at the UIC Headquarters in Paris, France.
Contact
For any questions, you can send an email to: toprail@uic.org
