Hello everyone. We hope you are all keeping well. It’s almost hard to believe we’re halfway through the year already!
Parliamentary reception
We are absolutely delighted to have held our parliamentary reception at the Palace of Westminster on Monday (7 July). Nearly 200 members, MPs, rail industry partners and third-sector supporters from across England, Scotland and Wales (and the Netherlands!) joined us for a celebration of all things community rail, showcasing the valuable work delivered all year round by community rail.
We’d like to say a big thank you to our host Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings, Rye and the villages, and to Rail Minister Lord Hendy, for their support in bringing this celebration of community rail to the Houses of Parliament. Huge thanks must also go to all our wonderful members, partners and supporters who travelled far and wide to join us, as well as to members of our team for delivering such a great event. If anyone would like photos from the event, please contact Alice.
For the event, we also produced a postcard with our key policy asks. Please do take a look, and if you have any thoughts or feedback, contact Rob.
Project outcomes and planning
This informal, online workshop, on Tuesday 5 August, 9.45am-12.45pm, will provide an overview of what project outcomes are, how to identify them, and tools and techniques for planning to achieve your outcomes and evidencing their success. This workshop is aimed at community rail officers, other members (chairs, station adopters) are also most welcome. Register here.
Opportunities with TeamBA
As part of their corporate partnership with Community Rail Network, TeamBA has committed 50 hours of pro-bono support to members on event delivery and creative media projects, including filmmaking and graphic design, as well as offering heavily discounted rates for both their service rates and AV kit hire. TeamBA has previously worked with Marston Vale CRP, Heart of England CRP and Worcestershire CRP on video projects to showcase rail trails, station adoption and days out by rail, as well as with us on our 2025 Community Rail Awards. To find out more about this offer and how to access support, please read their member resource protocol and check out their introductory video. To chat about potential opportunities, contact Ben Dalton.
Profile-raising
The June edition of Rail Director magazine features an article looking back on our recent Community Rail Week campaign, and the record-breaking 140 events, activities and promotions that showcased community rail and the Railway 200 celebrations. Read the piece here, on page 82.
Awards sponsorship opportunities
The countdown to the 2026 Community Rail Awards is on, and we’re still on the lookout for sponsors to make this fantastic event as special as ever. Check out the sponsorship pack here, and contact Hazel to get the conversation started.
Send your stories to news@communityrail.org.uk and see our guidance on submitting stories.
Your next bulletin is on 23 July. Keep up-to-date in between on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky and X.
Best wishes,
Jeremy and Bill
- Green light for over 50 road and rail upgrades supporting new homes and jobs
- Siemens Mobility employees volunteer at stations during Community Rail Week
- England mayors pledge to create national walking, wheeling and cycling network
- On track to prosperity: IPPR report lays out long-term plan for ‘Great Northern Rail’
- SWR marks 210th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo at station
- Engineering consulting firm adopts Charing Cross Station in Glasgow
- Cranbrook Station celebrates creativity and community at public art unveiling
- 20th anniversary joy abounds for Abbey Line CRP
- Former wartime evacuees reunited at Lowestoft and Glossop stations
- History and heritage of Wigan celebrated with unique photographic mural
- Cambrian Railway Partnership launches Railway 200 Community Grand Fund
- Triple celebrations for Settle Carlisle 150, Railway 200 and Bradford City of Culture
- Blue plaques unveiled to commemorate Marshlink Line railway connections
- Join White Cliffs CRP’s Railway 200 community rail day on Saturday 26 July
- Essex & South Suffolk CRP takes 60 pupils on Harry Potter-inspired coastal trip
- Barton Cleethorpes CRP’s Railway 200 art project profiled by BBC
- Volunteers produce exhibition exploring history and heritage of Denby Dale Station
- Community rail lines amongst 8 of the UK’s best railway hikes in iPaper list
The celebrations won’t be stopping there, either. The Friends of Penmere Station are extending an invitation to all those who wish to join their Centenary Gala on Saturday 26 July, 10am-5pm. Details of the day, which will include vintage cars, traction engines, refreshments and display stalls and exhibitions, can be found here.
Ken said of the achievement: “I have been involved with Haslemere Community Station since 2016 and currently we are in the process of taking over the Haslemere Signal Box when it is decommissioned in October of this year. We will be opening the signal box as a working museum, along with associated railway memorabilia situated in a Memorial Garden, dedicated to the 626 Southern Railway workers who gave their lives during the Second World War.
“My nickname locally is ‘Community Ken’, because everything I do, I do for the people of Haslemere. However, I do not do it alone, and none of my achievements would have been possible without the incredible support I get from people across the town and surrounding villages.”
