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Community Rail News – 15 October 2025

Hello everyone. It was wonderful seeing so many community rail partnerships and railway partners at the Community Rail Conference last week. Thanks to the Department for Transport, our members, partners and guest speakers for the engagement and contributions – we hope you found it useful and inspiring. We certainly did.

A strong message came through: community rail has a vital role to play in shaping the railways and a sustainable, inclusive future for our communities. It’s clear that members want to ensure we’re feeding in actively to the national debate, particularly around rail reform and devolution, while empowering members to engage decision-makers locally and regionally.

Many of you expressed a desire for guidance on engaging devolved mayoral authorities and contributing to local transport strategies. We’re listening, and we’re acting. Over the coming months, we’ll be communicating more regularly about our work on rail reform, ensuring you’re kept informed, and equipped to contribute meaningfully.

We’re already planning webinars focused on devolution and the opportunities it presents for community rail. These will explore how local partnerships can engage with regional leaders, influence transport planning, and ensure community voices are heard in shaping rail and integrated mobility to meet with local needs.

Many members also voiced concern about the shifting political landscape, particularly the rise of narratives that undermine efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity and tackle the climate crisis. It seems more important than ever that community rail feels confident in its role bringing people together, developing community-led solutions, and ensuring everyone can benefit from rail as a key part of a sustainable future.

As mentioned at the Conference, do take a look at Network Rail’s Greener Railway Strategy, which was published earlier this year, following our input. This recognises the importance of community rail, and has a strong focus on social value.

Also, we wanted to direct you to the recording of our last integrated sustainable transport group, where James Gleave from Mobility Lab provided an insightful presentation on ‘how to make friends and influence councillors’. Watch it here.

Best wishes,
Jeremy and Jools

Team changes

We’re sad to be saying goodbye to Sally Whitehead, who is leaving us at the end of November. Sally has expertly coordinated our Travelling with Confidence programme, and we’re sure you’ll join us in wishing her the very best. We’re advertising the post here.

Railway 200 content callout

We’re asking members to submit content to use in our final Railway 200 promotions. If you have photos and videos of your 2025 activities and of people waving at stations and on trains, plus statistics showing your impact, we’d love to receive and share these. Send content or queries to our comms team by end of Friday 31 October.

Connecting with corporate partners

Our corporate partners offer a range of support to our members, from volunteer help, to station buildings expertise, to graphic design, to STEM activity. Find out what our corporate partners offer and submit your request for support.

We currently have two specific opportunities: Hitachi Rail are interested in engaging with members marking White Ribbon Day; while Skanska are seeking volunteering in Network Rail’s North West & Central region. If you’re interested, contact Tiffany.

Project outcomes and planning

Our training and development team will be running an online workshop for CRP chairs and officers on project outcomes, how to identify them, and tools and techniques for achieving outcomes and evidencing success. We’re offering three alternative times: 10am-12.30pm on Wednesday 19 November, 2-4.30pm on Thursday 27 November and 6.30-8.45pm on Monday 1 December. The booking link will be emailed to CRP chairs and officers.

Send your stories to our Comms team and see our guidance on submitting stories.

Your next bulletin is on 29 October. Keep up-to-date in between on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky and X.

27 September was a day of dual celebrations for the Friends of Goostrey Station. As well as commemorating the official anniversary of the birth of the modern railway, the volunteer group were busy coordinating Goosefest activities. There was plenty to see and do at Goostrey Station: Sarah Russell MP unveiled one of the new history boards; the volunteers displayed an exhibition of their achievements as well as local artwork and station walks; and there was even a special time capsule burial, which will be recovered in 50 years’ time, creating a legacy of Goostrey village life in 2025.
East Suffolk Lines CRP is pleased to have led a team effort to refurbish the waiting room at Saxmundham Station, following several years of vandalism challenges. The partnership worked with station adopters and the local school to paint the room blue and adorn the walls with birds, butterflies, ladybirds and flowers – 130 in total – as well as the iconic Greater Anglia hare. A short poem was also written for one of the walls, illustrated with a tree showing the changing of the seasons.
The third and final instalment of the Friends of Glossop Station’s Railway 200-themed ‘Poetry on the Platform’ display has been launched at the station. Created and designed by Paul Marsh, the content includes the famous Night Mail poem by WH Auden and Skimbleshanks by TS Eliot.

Neil Williams of the Friends of Glossop Station said: “Our first display appeared at Easter and gave local impetus to the national Railway 200 celebrations. The Poetry Platform has a loyal following of readers and the themed focus on Railway 200 this year has proved popular. The display will continue until December, hopefully giving lots of travellers plenty of time to enjoy it.”