Community rail is a unique and growing grassroots movement made up of 75 community rail partnerships (locally-based community organisations), 1,300 station volunteer groups, and other community-led initiatives across Britain, engaging and empowering communities, and helping them get the most from their railways.

Community rail promotes social inclusion and access to opportunity, sustainable travel and tourism, health and wellbeing, and local economic development. This involves working with train operators, the wider rail and transport sector, local authorities, educators and community partners, to spearhead locally-led projects connected with rail, bring improvements to rail services and stations, and help communities have a voice on rail and transport.

Around Britain, there are:

• 75+ community rail partnerships, small community-based organisations working along railway routes to connect communities with the railway, promoting their line(s) delivering empowering and enabling initiatives, and helping railway and transport partners put communities at the forefront. 
• 1,300+ station friends or adoption groups made up of 10,000+ volunteers, bringing people together through volunteering, community gardening, arts projects and other community-led activities, and creating pride in stations and bringing them into the heart of community life.
• 100+ ‘community stations’ where the community has spearheaded the development and repurposing of station buildings and spaces, such as for social enterprises and community meeting spaces, turning these stations into thriving community hubs.

The community rail movement is brought together under Community Rail Network’s supportive umbrella, sharing ideas and good practice, increasing impact, and championing the movement’s unique insights.

You can see where Britain’s community railway lines are, region by region, and their main attractions, on our Scenic Rail Britain site. 

Find your nearest community rail partnership and station group on our interactive map.