On Friday, October 14, representatives of the world's railways gathered in Washington, D.C. to recognize 44 projects from 12 countries that were cited for outstanding design in the Brunel Awards International Design Competition Ceremony.

Presenting awards were U.S. DOT Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo and UIC Director General Jean-Pierre Loubinoux.  Organizing the competition ceremony was the Center for Industrial Design in Transportation (C4IDT), headed by Marsh's own James Michel, Senior Vice President in the Global Rail Practice.

The Brunel Awards were created in 1985 by the Watford Group and Jim has been involved with the Brunel Awards since 1991.  When Jim joined Marsh last year, it provided a unique opportunity for the Global Rail Practice to be intimately involved in a high rail profile international event.

The United States and Japan won the most awards, five each.  Other nations winning awards were Austria, China, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Over 150 entries were received and evaluated by an international jury that met in June 2011.

Many of Marsh's railway clients were involved in the Brunel honors including the New York MTA Metro North Railroad, Amtrak, Deutschebahn, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, and the Association of American Railroads. "The fact that many of our clients participate in the Brunel competition enables us to position our brand throughout the world," said Jim Beardsley, Practice Leader. "By supporting the Brunel Awards, the Global Rail Practice is identified as an international supporter of quality and sustainable design in railroad facilities and rolling stock."

A traveling exhibition of Brunel winners has been prepared and will be set up in major transportation venues in the United States and Europe.  The exhibit was featured at the "Rail-volution" conference in Washington, D.C. and will be the centerpiece of Metro North Railroad's centennial celebration for Grand Central Terminal in New York in February 2012.