Community Rail Network’s corporate partners offer a variety of different skill sets, knowledge and opportunities to aid our members’ work and support the growth of community rail across Britain. 

Some fantastic examples come from our corporate partners Siemens Mobility, who have collaborated with several community rail partnerships and station volunteer groups on different initiatives. 

Discover how your community rail partnership or station group can work with Siemens Mobility here.

TransWilts CRP

In early 2025, Elizabeth Chawner, sustainability advisor at Siemens Mobility, joined the board of trustees at the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership (CRP).

Sophie Martin, TransWilts CRP manager, said: “We welcome working with companies and other organisations in our area who can assist us in our role.

“Siemens Mobility have been of great benefit to us. Under their volunteering scheme, they have provided staff to help our project to tidy the area around Chippenham Station. With Liz Chawner joining our board, she has been able to share her expertise in a variety of areas to our mutual benefit.” 

Elizabeth Chawner, sustainability advisor at Siemens Mobility, said: “Joining the board at TransWilts CRP has been an enlightening experience, offering a deeper appreciation for the remarkable work undertaken by the partnership and the essential support it provides to local communities. It has been both rewarding and fulfilling to contribute my experience and networks from the corporate sector to help advance the mission and impact of TransWilts CRP.

“I look forward to future collaborations between Siemens Mobility and TransWilts CRP as we work to support the local communities in Wiltshire.”

Friends of Mauldeth Road Station

Siemens Mobility employees visited Mauldeth Road Station three times in 2025, continuing to support the Friends of Mauldeth Road in their efforts to keep the station safe, welcoming and vibrant.

These regular visits ensure Siemens are available to assist the group when needed, helping to advance their work to make a visible difference for passengers and create pride in the local community.

During Community Rail Week in May 2025, seven volunteers pitched in to lay wood chippings and gravel, as well as planting flowers – enhancing the station’s appearance and providing extra hands for larger tasks to accelerate progress over the summer.

Pat McGuinness, secretary for the Friends of Mauldeth Road Station, said: “The site is already attracting positive attention from locals and will be a welcome addition to the station.”

Community Rail Lancashire

Catherine Kingdom, community rail education development officer for Community Rail Lancashire, tells us about how Siemens Mobility has supported them with their work around youth engagement and careers in STEM.

“In April 2025 I went to meet Natalie at the Siemens Mobility facility in Goole to find out more about the site and the work they do there. It was all amazing to see! Natalie showed me a video of how the processes across the site work to produce a completed London Underground Piccadilly Line train, before taking me into the heart of the facility, where I saw everything in action and learnt more about the education opportunities Siemens provides.

“Thanks to this valuable first-hand knowledge, I have since been into schools to deliver careers talks and fairs, giving the young people I am working with detailed information about the site and a better insight into the huge range of training and career opportunities available to them in STEM, hopefully inspiring them to consider embarking on a future career in rail.”