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Community Rail News – 4 March 2026

Hello everyone. We hope this bulletin finds you well.

This edition starts with some team news. We’re delighted to have Chris Birks on board as our new director of policy and communications, bringing a wealth of experience from working with the Mayor of the East Midlands, the UK’s largest trade union Unison, and as a broadcast journalist. Chris will have a strong focus on championing community rail and its insights, especially as the new rail landscape takes shape.

We also extend a warm welcome to Anya Bonner as inclusion and engagement manager for our On Track programme, funded by the Motability Foundation. Anya is an experienced project and partnership manager and passionate about working with marginalised communities.

Our other Motability Foundation-funded project, Travelling with Confidence, continues to achieve significant success, into its second year. Seven community rail partnerships have received small grants to co-produce initiatives and empower disabled people to overcome travel barriers. There is still funding available for accredited CRPs; contact Ellen for more information.

The countdown is on for this year’s Awards at Derby Arena on 19 March. We can’t wait to join you in celebrating inspiring initiatives and people from across our wonderful movement, showing how rail can act as a catalyst for connection, opportunity and positive change. Ahead of the big night, don’t forget to revisit the shortlist and book your place on the exciting fringe activities, courtesy of headline partner East Midlands Railway and CRPs across the region.

We’re also already looking ahead to our 2027 Awards. If you represent a company looking to demonstrate your commitment to community-led action, we have a range of sponsorship opportunities available. Check out our sponsorship pack here.

Best wishes,
Jeremy and Jools

Education and youth engagement

Members are invited to join the Community Rail Education Network on Wednesday 18 March, 10-11am. The session will focus on active travel and how community rail partnerships and groups can work with education providers in Walk to School Week. Email Karen to attend.

Tourism and leisure

Join the next Community Rail Tourism Network on Thursday 16 April, 10-11.30am. Alex from our training and development team will lead a session on how members can measure the impact of tourism and leisure initiatives and strengthen the case for support. Email Alice to attend.

We will also be hosting an in-person Tourism Network meet-up on Thursday 9 April alongside Yorkshire Coast CRP. This will be a brilliant opportunity to explore how fellow members encourage people to take the train for greener, healthier journeys. Email Alice for details.

Video support from TeamBA

Our corporate partner TeamBA has upcoming availability for supporting members with filming work. They have previously worked with Marston Vale CRP, Essex & South Suffolk CRP, Heart of England CRP and Worcestershire CRP on video projects to showcase rail trails, station adoption and days out by rail, and are keen to hear from others interested in doing something similar. Contact Ben Dalton if you’d like to chat about opportunities.

Your next bulletin is on 18 March. Keep up-to-date in between on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky and X.

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

Heart of England CRP worked with Stratford Literary Festival to deliver an educational train trip with a difference earlier this month. The partnership collaborated with award-winning author Sam Sedgman, who has penned many novels with trains at the heart of the story. Sam delivered an interactive workshop on board a West Midlands Railway train between Stratford and Birmingham, where the class of primary school students really put their imaginations to the test to devise an exciting murder mystery plot, making for quite the thrilling train trip!
The Friends of Bishopstone Station have been honoured at a special ceremony where they received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, in recognition of their work to transform the railway station into a thriving community hub offering activities, events and social support. HM Lord-Lieutenant of East Sussex presented the group with their award (which is equivalent to an MBE and the highest award granted to volunteer groups in the UK), acknowledging the volunteers’ dedication to bringing new life and renewed purpose to the much‑loved station and community space.