The work to open High Speed 1, the UK's only European sized rail route, for rail freight, combined with the successful introduction of direct rail freight services from Poland to the UK using that route, saw DB Schenker Rail win the Railfreight Excellence award.
The judges were impressed with the determined approach DB Schenker Rail took towards opening up the first mainland European sized rail freight corridor in the UK, allowing new services to be introduced.
Derek Clark, an engineer for DB Schenker Rail who has delivered pioneering locomotive fuel saving initiatives, won the Railfreight Engineer of the Future award.
The judges liked his professionalism towards researching engineering practices outside the rail industry to improve the fuel utilization of locomotives, helping to reduce costs and protect the environment.
As well as holding the title of Rail Freight Engineer of the Future, Derek will also receive a detailed training program from award sponsor Electro Motive designed to develop his career, including two weeks training at their facility at La Grange in Chicago.
In the Internal Communications Excellence category, DB Schenker Rail was highly commended for its employee safety improvement program Switch on to Safety, a campaign designed to enhance personal responsibility among the workforce for safety management.
Alain Thauvette, Chief Executive of DB Schenker Rail UK, said: 'Opening High Speed 1 to rail freight and introducing the first service on that corridor from mainland Europe was a significant prize in itself. Winning the Railfreight Excellence award confirms that the approach we took was the right one for our customers and the rail freight industry.
'I am delighted that Derek Clark has been recognized for his outstanding commitment to engineering development and towards finding new solutions. For his service to customers alone, he deserves his title of Railfreight Engineer of the Future.'
Mr Thauvette continued: 'We are also pleased that our employee engagement program on safety management was highly commended. The work to improve safety never ends, and the judges have recognised the efforts our people are making to ensure they are always switched on to safety.'
