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Community Rail News – 25 June 2025

Hello everyone. We hope you’re all well and enjoying the slightly cooler weather!

Better Transport Week

It was great to see members getting involved with Better Transport Week, and we were delighted to support the delivery of the launch event between Leeds and Huddersfield stations with Campaign for Better Transport and Penistone Line Partnership. Our policy, research & resource officer Rob also led an interactive session at the campaign conference in Manchester alongside Ian Baxter, strategy director at SLC, on the role of the rail network in placemaking.

Get involved: Days Out by Rail returns this August

Our flagship tourism and leisure campaign, Days Out by Rail, returns this summer from 1–31 August, and we’re inviting everyone involved in community rail to take part. We’re calling on members to share their local knowledge and hidden tourism gems that are easily accessible by train, focused around four themes: Family adventures loved by locals; Unlock the past by train; Memorable moments for less; and From rails to reels. These community-sourced highlights will form the heart of the campaign, which will be promoted through the Scenic Rail Britain website and social media channels. See our website for more details about these themes and how to get involved or get in touch with Alice.

Upcoming webinars and training sessions

Training and webinar sessions coming up in the next few weeks are listed below, all of which will be held online.

  • Community Rail Development Fund ‘showcase’ webinar – join this session on Thursday 26 June, 12-1pm, to hear from Community Rail Lancashire, Worcestershire CRP, Severnside CRP and Tyne Valley CRP about projects made possible by the Community Rail Development Fund. This session is open to everyone. Register here.
  • Networking for community rail officers – join this friendly and informal session on Tuesday 1 July, 10.30am-12.30pm, where you can connect with fellow officers, discuss challenges and share top tips. Members only. Register here.
  • Networking for CRP chairs – chairs are invited to join this session on Thursday 3 July, 1.30-3.30pm, to chat with fellow chairs, hear updates from us and discuss current issues and challenges with each other. Members only. Register here.
  • Tackling anti-social behaviour – Wednesday 16 July, 10-11.45am, the webinar will take an in-depth look at how members can work together with their train operators, local communities and other partners to develop engaging projects addressing anti-social behaviour at stations. Members only. Register here.

Send your stories to news@communityrail.org.uk and see our guidance on submitting stories.

Your next bulletin is on 9 July. Keep up-to-date in between on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky and X.

Best wishes,
Jeremy and Bill

Members were busy throughout Rail Safety Week (16-22 June) raising awareness of how community rail empowers more people to travel safely, confidently and independently using public transport. Heart of England CRP and Robin Hood Line CRP highlighted their work with Learn Live, and Severnside CRP their Days Out by Train initiative; Tyne Valley CRP and Poacher Line CRP held exhibition stands at local stations and colleges; and Barton Cleethorpes CRP (above left), Hereward CRP, Bishop Line CRP and Yorkshire Coast CRP (above right) took groups of young people on exciting ‘try the train’ trips, where they learnt how to stay safe when navigating the railway and stations, whether on board a train or crossing the tracks via level crossings, footbridges or underpasses.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester has officially unveiled a statue to Thomas Brassey, one of Britain’s greatest railway builders, at Chester Station. The statue was made possible thanks to funding and support from 3 Counties Connected CRP, North Cheshire CRP, Community Rail Network’s Community Rail Development Fund, Transport for Wales, Avanti West Coast and the Thomas Brassey Society. It is hoped the bronze sculpture, designed by Andrew Edwards, will encourage people to learn more about the fascinating achievements of Brassey, who by the late 1840s had been responsible for building around a third of all Britain’s railways and three quarters of France’s railways.
Station friends groups at Glossop, Hadfield and Guide Bridge have hosted their annual Teddy Bears’ Picnic. With the support of Northern, free train travel was offered to all families taking part in the event on Saturday 14 June. The ‘hunt the teddy bears’ competition proved popular, and picnic food was provided for free thanks to generous donations from TWIG Glossop Station Café. The groups also took the opportunity to showcase each station’s facilities and volunteer activity to the new passengers.

Neil Williams of the Friends of Glossop Station said: “We were delighted that around 120 families joined us for the train trips and activities at each station. Around 60% of the children had never experienced train travel before, and their laughter and excitement were much in evidence on the trains. Northern drivers and guards also entered into the spirit of the day, with lots of smiles, waves and teddy bear roundels in their caps.

“All the friends groups are indebted to the support provided by Becky Styles, community and sustainability manager at Northern, who joined in and supported us on the trains and at the stations. A most enjoyable day!”

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