Hello everyone. We hope, as always, that this bulletin finds you well.
AGM – new date
We have taken the decision to postpone our Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will now take place on Tuesday 28 January 2025, 2-3.30pm, via Zoom. As previously shared in this bulletin, there will be a vote at the AGM regarding Community Rail Network’s proposal to pursue charitable status. We’re asking as many of our members as possible to attend our AGM, to cast your vote on this important matter.
We’re also still inviting applications for board directors to play a role in shaping the future direction of our organisation and community rail. Please save the date and further information will follow, including the AGM agenda and registration process and details for board nominations.
Value of community rail report
We’re delighted to share the publication of our value of community rail report, supported by Rail Delivery Group. We’ve had a fantastic response to the report from our partners, train operators and across social media, and we’re sure it will act as a crucial resource for demonstrating the positive impact of community rail. Huge thanks to all members who shared insights during the research process, and to Heart of England CRP, Mary Creagh MP and volunteers from the Life Path Trust who helped us launch the report at Coventry Station.
Grant award for new programme empowering disabled people
We’re thrilled to have been awarded a grant by the Motability Foundation to deliver a major initiative empowering disabled people to use the railway, and connected modes, with confidence. We’ll be getting the project underway in early 2025, to run over two years. We’re working with four community rail partnerships as core delivery partners: Community Rail Lancashire; GO Community Rail Partnership (Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire); Severnside CRP, Southeast Communities Rail Partnership. They will be working with their local inclusion and disability partners, aiming to engage 1,500 disabled people with varied needs and lived experiences, developing their skills and awareness and providing enriching travel experiences, while listening to their input and enabling them to shape their involvement.
As we move through the project, we’ll also be launching a dedicated grants scheme and providing support and advice to other community rail partnerships wanting to run similar initiatives on a smaller scale, helping to spread good practice. The programme will be coordinated by a dedicated lead at Community Rail Network: this post is being advertised here.
Sharing community rail’s insights
We’ll be meeting Rail Minister Lord Hendy on 21 October. With the new government only having been in office for 12 weeks, it’s encouraging to have a meeting with the Minister so soon. We’ve also been continuing our work engaging with mayors and regional transport bodies, having had positive meetings with East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward and Mal Drury-Rose, Director of Rail for Transport for West Midlands, both of whom we will be meeting regularly moving forward.
Our director of comms & policy Sarah Chilton spoke at Rail Partners’ fringe event at the Labour Party Conference last week, flying the flag for the importance of involving and empowering local communities through the process of rail transformation. We have also been addressing various train operator conferences and will continue to over the coming months.
Days Out by Rail
We encourage all members to get involved with our Days Out by Rail campaign, delivered through Scenic Rail Britain from Monday 14 October to Sunday 3 November. Make use of the digital toolkit to shine a light on your line and amplify your tourism and leisure promotions, or speak to Alice for advice on promoting greener leisure journeys in your area.
Send your stories to news@communityrail.org.uk and see our guidance on submitting stories.
Your next bulletin is on 16 October. Keep up-to-date in between on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and X.
Best wishes,
Jeremy and Jools
- Transport NGOs say ‘it’s time to get a shift on’ on World Car Free Day
- Excitement builds for railway’s 200th anniversary in 2025
- Join CTA’s week-long celebration of the impact of community transport
- Campaign for Better Transport shows the difference small travel switches can make
- Catch up on all episodes of Interchange’s integrated transport podcast
- Photo competition encourages young people to capture the spirit of Railway 200
- Lowestoft Station project receives major boost through GBRTT volunteering
- Suffolk Scouts help to rejuvenate Melton Station
- Young carers boost travel confidence on fun-filled day out by rail to Llandudno
Tony Ford, chair of the South Fylde Line CRP, said: “I am thrilled to welcome the establishment of the Friends of Blackpool Pleasure Beach Station. It has taken a lot of work behind the scenes, but what an achievement. If anyone is interested in joining the eight-strong group and making a positive difference to a well-used station, please get in contact!”
