An inspiring range of rail projects bringing communities together across Britain have been honoured at the 21st Community Rail Awards.

The event, organised by Community Rail Network with headline partner East Midlands Railway, took place in Derby on Thursday 19 March. A record 610 guests attended, including rail leaders, community groups and volunteers from across England, Scotland and Wales.

Community rail partnerships and station volunteers work with the railway to make stations more welcoming, help people feel confident using trains, and ensure railways better serve the communities around them. Judges reviewed more than 300 entries this year, showcasing the incredible scale of work taking place across Britain’s 76 community rail partnerships and around 1,300 station volunteer groups.

Winning projects showed the real difference community rail makes locally, from helping young people overcome barriers to public transport and have a say in shaping services, to supporting disabled people to travel more independently and discover the railway as a safe, accessible space in their communities.

The evening’s top honour, the Outstanding Contribution to Community Rail Award, was shared by two standout community groups. Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnership was recognised for nearly 30 years of strengthening community connections along the coast and helping more people feel confident travelling by train. Meanwhile, Farnborough Street Residents Association was honoured for transforming Farnborough North railway station into a welcoming community hub, turning an unstaffed station into a proud local space enjoyed by residents and passengers alike.

Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said: “Our Community Rail Awards are a national celebration of the remarkable partnerships and community‑led innovation taking place across Britain to strengthen the bond between railways and the communities they serve. This year’s winners show how community rail enriches local places, builds travel confidence, champions inclusion, and turns stations into catalysts for connection, opportunity and positive change.

“As we look ahead, following the Railway 200 celebrations, these achievements remind us how vital community rail is in shaping a railway that reflects local needs, supports national ambitions, and delivers real benefits for people and places. Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to everyone who supports and champions community rail, helping the movement to go from strength to strength.”

Will Rogers, Managing Director of East Midlands Railway said: “East Midlands Railway is proud to be the headline partner for the 2026 Community Rail Awards and celebrate the fantastic work being done across the network to connect communities and make rail more welcoming and accessible.

“It’s especially fitting that the awards are being held in Derby, a city with a proud railway heritage and a global reputation for rail engineering and innovation. As a key hub on our network, Derby brings people together from across the East Midlands and beyond, making it the perfect place to recognise the passion and dedication of community rail partnerships, station adopters and volunteers.

“Community rail continues to play a vital role in the future of the railway, helping more people discover the benefits of travelling by train and supporting a more sustainable transport network. At East Midlands Railway, part of Transport UK Group, we’re proud to support that work. Congratulations to everyone involved in the 2026 Community Rail Awards, and especially to all the fantastic winners.”

Full details of all winners are available on our Hall of Fame.