Hello everyone.
It’s been another busy week for Community Rail Network, with an opportunity to reflect on our collective achievements, as well as look ahead to one of the highlights of next year’s calendar.
Firstly, thank you to everyone who joined us online for our Annual General Meeting last Wednesday. It was a valuable opportunity to reflect on the progress we’ve made together, celebrate the extraordinary contribution of community rail across Britain, and look ahead to our shared priorities. We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to participate and contribute. If you couldn’t join us, you can catch up by downloading our latest Annual Impact Report and viewing Bill’s presentation slides on our website.
We’re also delighted to announce the theme for Community Rail Week 2027, taking place from 17–23 May: Behind Every Journey.
Behind every journey are people, places and partnerships that make a difference. From the dedication of volunteers and community rail partnerships to the stations, destinations and projects that bring communities together, there are countless stories worth celebrating. Next year’s campaign will shine a spotlight on those stories and the incredible contribution our movement makes to people’s lives.
As ever, we want Community Rail Week to be something everyone can get involved in, whatever your capacity or resources. Whether that’s through local events, digital storytelling, new partnerships or simply sharing the brilliant work you’re already doing, every contribution helps us tell the story of community rail and extend its reach. We’ve put together some helpful information and practical ideas on our website to get you started, and we’ll be sharing more details about our plans and key events in the new year. For now, please do save the dates and start thinking about the stories you could tell.
As always, thank you for everything you do to champion community rail and the communities it serves. Whether you’re helping someone make their first rail journey, bringing new life to a station or building partnerships that create lasting local change, your work makes a difference every day. We look forward to celebrating more of it together in the months ahead.
Best wishes
Bill and Jeremy
Listen to our latest podcast episode
Last week we launched the second episode of All Aboard, our brand-new podcast hosted by Chris Birks and Erin Kelly from our policy and communications team. In this episode, we took the podcast to our recent Conference in Derby, where you can hear from two of our keynote speakers, as well as one member who made the journey all the way from the Netherlands. Please do tune in, subscribe and help spread the word.
White Ribbon Day toolkit
We’re proud to support White Ribbon Day on Wednesday 25 November, raising awareness about preventing gender-based violence and intimidation on the rail network and helping to create safer communities. We’re encouraging members to get involved, use our toolkit and share these important messages at a local level. Find out more and download the toolkit.
Importance of engaging with your local CVS (community voluntary service)
A recent online station adoption group session explored useful links and sources of support for community rail groups. We heard from Kaye from Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL), who outlined the different kinds of services and resources that local infrastructure bodies might offer. She gave us a great example of a local community group that benefited from funding and resources, which only came about because VAL were administering a neighbourhood fund. Kaye also talked about networks and advice they offer on topics such as funding and climate action, and services like the local Volunteer Centre, room hire and advice.
We’d like to remind all Community Rail Network members that there are many useful contacts in their local community and that a good way to start looking for them is to find, and join, a local infrastructure body. Maps showing locations and contact details can be found on the NAVCA, WCVA and SCVO websites.
The station adoption session also looked at examples of national organisations that offer useful resources on various themes. You can view the slides here.
The following training, networking and development sessions are online and members only unless stated otherwise.
- Community Rail Education Network. Wednesday 18 November, 10-11am. This session will focus on the Rail Social Mobility Network. Open to all. Details here.
- White Ribbon Day webinar. Thursday 3 December, 1-2pm. This session will explore how community rail can help to prevent violence and intimidation against women and girls, and feature insights from the British Transport Police and Rail Delivery Group. Details here.
- Community Rail Officer networking and peer discussion on making funding applications. Thursday 10 December, 10am-12pm. In this session, you’ll meet fellow community rail officers and have the chance to hear their experiences, swap tips and useful resources and discuss solutions to common problems in relation to making funding applications. Book your place.
- Community Rail Tourism Network and Integrated Sustainable Transport discussion group. Tuesday 15 December, 10-11:30am. More details will follow over the coming weeks, but this joint session between two of our networks will include a speaker from the Royal Horticultural Society talking about their work to promote car-free travel to their destinations for both staff and visitors. Details here.
Your next bulletin is on 25 November. Keep up-to-date in between on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky and X. Send your stories to news@communityrail.org.uk.
- Blackmore Vale CRP’s ‘Green Platforms’ short film celebrates station volunteering
- Friends of Wemyss Bay Station to host award-winning author for special events
- Bishop Line CRP inspires next generation to look towards rail and STEM careers
- TransWilts CRP seeking Wiltshire’s railway memories for new exhibition
- Autumn colours video promotes travel via new Okehampton Interchange Station
- Lowestoft Station set to host biggest ever book sale
- Video showcases work of volunteers to mark Remembrance at New Milton Station
- Harwich students learn about railway careers aboard Greater Anglia ‘job train’
- Monthly pop-up café at Appleby Station offers a warm welcome for the community
- ‘See it. Say it. Sorted.’ marks a decade of keeping Britain’s railways safe
- More Sunday trains as major agreement reached between Northern and RMT union
- Graves Youth Theatre to bring festive cheer to rail venues with ‘Pop-Up Pantos’
- Living Streets celebrates 75 years since the installation of the first zebra crossing
- Siemens launches STEM work experience programme for 10,000 young people
- Stockport pupils learn about railway safety with SLC
- Progress being made to boos female representation in Welsh transport sector
Common Good Films
Common Good Films specialises in creating short documentary-style films that showcase positive community stories and voices. Following a recent project with the Friends of Leyland Station, the team is keen to work with other station volunteer and community rail groups across Lancashire who may benefit from a professional short film. To find out more, explore their portfolio of work here, and get in contact here to discuss a potential project.