Empowering communities to engage with rail

Community Rail Network is dedicated to supporting community-based groups and partnerships that connect their community with their railway and deliver social benefit.

Across Britain, about 70 community rail partnerships, plus hundreds of station friends and other groups and social enterprises, make up the community rail movement. It’s a growing movement delivering a range of activities that bring people together and help communities get the most from their railways, as well as helping our railways to thrive. These activities range from community gardening and arts projects on stations, to helping people with disabilities use rail, to advising train operators on meeting local needs: work carrying significant social and economic value.

Community Rail Network provides support, advice and information to the community rail movement through membership services and events. We share good practice and connect those working in community rail, while bringing together insights from the wider voluntary sector, rail industry and beyond.

We represent and advocate for community rail, providing a link between our members and national and devolved governments, partners and industry, promoting understanding of their contribution and how this can be nurtured. We also aim to raise awareness about community rail, explaining its importance, and promoting engagement with (and travel by!) community rail.