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Community Rail News – 8 July 26

Hello everyone.

As we move through another busy summer, it’s encouraging to see Community Rail Network continuing to shape conversations about the future of our railway at every level. Whether influencing national policy, engaging with regional transport leaders or championing the role of our members, we’re ensuring that community rail remains at the heart of the industry’s thinking. 

Last week alone demonstrated the breadth of that work. We were pleased to attend Network Rail’s New Stations Industry Partnership conference, which brought together rail industry partners, Mayoral Strategic Authorities, train operators and community rail to explore how new stations can deliver greater value for passengers and places. As proposals for new stations continue to emerge, we’ll be working closely with this partnership to ensure our members are involved from the earliest stages and that community voices help shape design, delivery and long-term success.  

At the same time, our director of policy and communications, Chris Birks, spoke at Great Western Railway’s Community Rail and Stakeholder conference, setting out our vision for community rail in Great British Railways. The message was clear: community rail cannot simply sit alongside the railway; it must be recognised as a strategic partner within it. The railway of the future won’t be built through organisational change alone, but through stronger relationships with the communities it exists to serve.
 
That message was reinforced in the North East, where our regions support manager, Paul Webster, attended the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority’s consultation on the future of rail and integrated transport. Alongside three community rail partnership representatives from the region, we made the case that community rail must be embedded within future transport planning from the outset, ensuring local knowledge and community expertise help shape decisions. 

These conversations reflect the direction of travel set out in our latest policy papers on the future of Great British Railways. They outline how community rail can play a central role in delivering a more locally responsive, inclusive, sustainable and passenger-focused railway. If you haven’t yet had the chance to read them, I would encourage you to do so here. 

Thank you, as always, for everything you continue to do in your communities. The influence of community rail is growing because of the collective work of our members, and together we’re helping to ensure the future railway is one that is shaped not just for communities, but with them. 

Best wishes
Jeremy

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 to get involved. We’re calling on members to share their local knowledge and hidden tourism gems that are easily accessible by train, focused around three themes: summer days out for less; local family favourites; and taste your way by rail. 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 here for more details about these themes and how to get involved or get in touch with Alice.

Upcoming sessions

We have several online training and networking sessions coming up:

  • Community rail officers networking: Thursday 9 July, 10am-12pm. Provides officers with the chance to share news and ideas, with a particular focus on how AI can fit in with the work of community rail. Details here.
  • Tourism Network: Tuesday 14 July. Join this in-person meet-up in Ely hosted by Hereward CRP to discover more about how this CRP encourage people to take the train for greener, healthier journeys. Email Alice for details.
  • Education Network: Wednesday 15 July, 10-11am. A representative from the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators will be discussing early engagement with rail careers. Details here.
  • Sharpen your outcomes: Tuesday 21 July, 10.30-11.30am. The first of three drop-in sessions for members to talk through their projects and refine their outcomes, with support from our training and development team. Register here.

Your next bulletin is on 22 July. 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.

Accrington’s Stations of Welcome group marked the forthcoming wedding of one of its members with a joyful traditional Pakistani Dholki celebration – beginning on board a train and continuing at the station!

The station adoption group, believed to be the only one in the country made up of mostly Muslim women, is well known locally for its community work and volunteering at Accrington Station. Neilam, the group’s treasurer, is getting married this summer, and fellow members wanted to begin her traditional Pakistani wedding celebrations in memorable style. The group travelled by train with Northern from Accrington to Blackburn and back, singing and playing the Dholki drum, before bringing the festivities back to the station.
Stow Community Trust is proud to support the Stow Station House as a space at the heart of the community, and the group has a packed line-up of events coming soon. Open every Friday and Saturday night, 6-10pm, the entirely volunteer-run pub will be hosting special events such as cocktail night (25 July), burger night (1 Aug), karaoke night (15 Aug) and live jazz night (26 Sept), as well as showing rugby matches in autumn. Keep an eye on the group’s Facebook page for regular updates about upcoming events.

The Station House is also available to hire for family celebrations, parties, meetings and other special occasions. Details of hire charges and the booking form can be found here.
LonGBoaT Wakefield was proud to host a section of the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt at Wakefield Kirkgate Station for a week during Pride Month. The Quilt tells the stories of people who were lost during the AIDS epidemic, ensuring their lives, contributions and memories are never forgotten.

David, LonGBoaT Wakefield chair, said: “Our Community Gallery was created to tell stories, and create opportunities for learning and conversation. We were honoured to host part of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and help ensure these stories remain visible and accessible to the public.

“The history of AIDS is an important part of LGBT+ history, but it is also a story about community, compassion and the power of people coming together to support one another. We hope visitors took a moment to reflect on the lives represented within the Quilt and the lessons that remain relevant today.”