Community Rail News: Member photos of the fortnight (Aug-Sept 2026) - Community Rail Network

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Community Rail News: Member photos of the fortnight (Aug-Sept 2026)

August 19, 2026

16 September 2026

Hereward CRP is proud to have launched a new activity book. Designed with young people in mind, the book includes a range of ‘spotting’ activities that can be enjoyed from both the train window and at stations, as well as colouring, quizzes, rail safety activities, a giant wordsearch, and suggestions of things to see and do from Peterborough to Ely. Illustrations capturing the unique landscape and landmarks of the Hereward Line were provided by artist Claire McGinley, who also created the character of Fen the owl to guide readers through the book and its various activities.

The book had its first outing earlier this month, when the CRP attended Belton House Community Festival in Grantham, handing out almost 200 copies to young people. Copies can be collected from Visit Ely, Oliver Cromwell’s House, and March Station.

Passengers travelling through Chapeltown Station can now enjoy a vibrant artwork created by a local Beavers & Cubs group as part of Platforms for Change, an initiative that empowers and engages Scout groups with community rail activity at stations. The project – delivered by the Friends of Chapeltown Station, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Penistone Line Partnership, Northern and British Transport Police – saw the 82nd Chapeltown Beavers & Cubs group take part in a rail safety workshop and a ‘try the train’ trip to Wombwell, where they explored the station environment, shared their experiences of travelling by train and gathered inspiration for the artwork they would go on to create together.

The artwork, entitled ‘Our Train Adventure’, came to fruition through a series of creative workshops, and was officially unveiled on Platform 2 at Chapeltown Station in June 2026. The occasion also saw the young people proudly receive their Platforms for Changes badges, celebrating their new artistic skills, rail confidence, and positive contribution to the local community.

Essex & South Suffolk CRP teamed up with East Suffolk Lines CRP to facilitate a fantastic day out by rail to visit Sutton Hoo, a National Trust site home to an Anglo-Saxon royal burial site. Thanks to funding from Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape, the CRPs took a group of 30 people of many ages and nationalities from RAMA (Refugee, Asylum Seeker & Migrant Action) Colchester to Melton via Ipswich. From there it was a delightful walk along the King Charles III Coast Path to Sutton Hoo, where the group explored the site, played games and enjoyed a picnic.

Jane Stewart, Essex & South Suffolk CRP officer, said: “This was a great day out by train and one that the group could not afford to do without our help and the additional funding we received. For all it was their first trip to Sutton Hoo, and the lovely people at the National Trust gave free entry for all participants.

“One Ukrainian woman said that she and her son had not been on any days out this summer holiday due to costs, so for them it was a godsend.”

In August, Barton Cleethorpes CRP held a special event to celebrate the people who help make the Barton Line so welcoming for passengers and the wider community. The afternoon brought together volunteers, station adopters and community partners to enjoy a buffet tea and exchange thank you gifts. It also provided a valuable opportunity for networking, and for station adopters to share stories, experiences and tips and tricks – as well as hearing more about the CRP’s work to support vibrant, accessible and community-focused railways.

Carl Thomas, chair of Barton Cleethorpes CRP, said: “Volunteers and station adopters give their time, energy and creativity because they care deeply about their local railway. We wanted to take the opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you for everything they do. We couldn’t achieve what we do without them. Their contribution is hugely valued, and this thank you event is a small way of recognising the difference they make.”

2 September 2026

For two weeks during August, New Milton town centre was transformed into a free art gallery, and the Friends of New Milton Station were proud to do their bit to support the initiative. From 1-15 August, more than 80 local artists exhibited their work across 40 shops, businesses and independent venues, including the railway station. Celebrating New Milton’s proximity to the sea, and timed to celebrate the summer holidays, the Waiting Room Art Gallery housed pieces from six artists on the theme of ‘Coast’. The volunteers were joined by representatives from South Western Railway and the New Forest Arts Centre, who cut the ribbon to declare the Arts Trail open. Halfway through the trail, there was also an Artists of the Year competition. This was another first for the town, and the competition was attended by around 35 people with a range of prizes given for the winning artworks.

Val Sargeson, secretary of the Friends of New Milton Station, said: “Conversations have started, smiles have been seen, businesses have gained, and artists have sold their work. This is part of the Friends of New Milton Station’s vision: ‘A Whole Town Project… a station that provides a welcoming experience for both visitors and the local community and enhances the town by its appearance and community involvement.'”

Essex & South Suffolk CRP delivered a series of three ‘seaside special’ trains this summer, with support from Greater Anglia, taking families from Colchester North to Walton-on-the-Naze for a delightful day out by rail. Resident pirate magician Captain Crackers was on board to keep the young ones entertained, and there were plenty of games to enjoy along the journey, including guessing the number of shells in a jar and competitions to name soft toy stingrays and lobsters (‘Leonardo da Pinchi’ was one such winner!).

More than 100 people were on board across the three trips, including several children who had never been on a train before, and lots of repeat families who take up the offer every year. The CRP handed out copies of the ‘Emily the Engineer’ activity book and their Sunshine Coast Line ‘young explorer’ leaflets to the families, as well as distributing general information about the partnership to all passengers on the trains, whether they were part of the trips or not, to ensure more people know about the work of the CRP and how they can get involved.

Volunteers from the Dumfries Adoptive Railway Gardeners group (DARG) have made a special visit to Blaydon and Haltwhistle stations across the Tyne Valley CRP network, the second in a series of trips between the two groups to share expertise and best practice between fellow community rail volunteers.

DARG volunteers travelled from Dumfries to Blaydon via Carlisle, exploring the murals and gardens at the station and learning more about the different initiatives delivered by the team of station adopters – including the newly-installed replica ceramic tiled route map of 1900 North Eastern Railway. It was then off to Haltwhistle for another station tour and lunch in the Water Tower Café, a community service run by Tyne Valley CRP.

Frank Jones, lead volunteer with DARG, said: “A big thank you to Tyne Valley CRP staff and volunteers for hosting us. It was good to see first hand the results of the volunteers’ hard work. This gives us encouragement and new ideas in our own efforts at Dumfries.”

A representative from the Friends of Blaydon Station said: “It was an honour to have the opportunity to co-host the DARG visit to the Tyne Valley. We are keen to ensure Blaydon Station is recognised as one of the many Tyne Valley stations that have contributed to both local and regional industrial and railway history. We trust our efforts, from tending colourful flower beds to devising wall murals, create a safe and appealing atmosphere for all rail users and the people of Blaydon and surrounding villages.”

In response to the recent challenging and prolonged dry weather, Barton Cleethorpes CRP has provided station adopters along its route with collapsible water bags, giving volunteers a simple and portable way to collect, carry and store water for use on station gardens. Station adopters have been encouraged to use water carefully and prioritise plants that are most vulnerable during hot and dry conditions. This new initiative also highlights the importance of choosing drought-tolerant planting and using water efficiently wherever possible.

Carl Thomas, chair of Barton Cleethorpes CRP, said: “Community gardens and planting make such a positive difference to our railway stations, but prolonged dry weather can make looking after them a real challenge for volunteers. Providing collapsible water bags is a small but practical way of helping station adopters keep their plants healthy, while also supporting the bees, butterflies and other pollinators that rely on these gardens.”

19 August 2026

The Friends of Bicester North Station are going Mediterranean! In response to the extreme heatwaves Britain has been experiencing this year, the volunteer group made a decision in early July to stop watering the plants at their station, acutely aware of the need to keep water for other vital purposes such as farming. The group have since undertaken an audit of their flower beds, and going forward plan to plant a wider variety of plants that will thrive in a Mediterranean climate, requiring less attention from a watering can yet still providing a vibrant display of colour and home for pollinators and other insects, hopefully all year round.

The Friends would appreciate any further information or best practice that can be shared from other station adoption groups about how they too are dealing with the shortage of water and plan to adapt their gardening practices as a consequence. Get in touch here.

Two stations along the Hounslow to Richmond Line have celebrated their 180th birthdays in style. The celebrations began at Mortlake Station, where Southeast Communities Rail Partnership and South Western Railway welcomed guests to the opening of the art gallery by Thomson House School, got everyone involved in a sing-a-long with the Good Morning Community Choir, and created a special moment for ticket office team leader Daniel Opoku, who celebrated 25 years of service to the community.

The group then made the journey over to Richmond Station, where they were welcomed by singing group The Decibelles for more birthday celebrations and the opening of the community gallery. The exhibition features art by Cyril Edward Power, the pioneering artist whose dynamic and iconic linocuts defined the Machine Age and the Roaring Twenties, depicting modern urban life, and the British at work and at play. The exhibition is free and on view until late 2027.

Tim Barkley, chair of Southeast Communities Rail Partnership, said: “The aim of the gallery is to celebrate Richmond’s identity by connecting passengers with local history, culture, people and creativity through a curated and evolving visual programme. We are so proud that these amazing images are in keeping with this precious art deo station.”

Mike Power, grandson of the artist, said: “Cyril always wanted his art to be accessible and affordable to everyone. This installation showcases his work on a grand scale and he would have been thrilled that passengers, commuters and tourists are viewing it.”

As part of Heart of England CRP‘s Wild Rails biodiversity project, the partnership worked with Year 5 Aardvark Olton Primary School students, West Midlands Railway and Olton Station Adopters to create and install bird boxes at Olton Station. Alongside partners Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, the students examined current biodiversity levels already at the station, to consider how they might improve this with a future project.

A cyanotype nature inspired art workshop also saw the creation of prints to brighten up the passenger waiting room at Olton Station. Invented in 1842 and credited as being one of the earliest forms of basic photography, a cyanotype (above right) is created when an object is placed on special light-sensitive paper and exposed to the sun. Where the object is laid over the paper, a shadow is created. The print is then developed in water, revealing the image created by the shadow of the subject.

Barton Cleethorpes CRP staff and volunteers have been working hard to refresh the community garden at New Holland Station. During a productive morning, the team spruced up a memorial bench, five raised planters and a picnic bench that had been badly vandalised.

Dawn Branton, CRP officer, said: “It was a lovely morning working together to spruce up the community garden at New Holland Station. It is always rewarding to see the difference a few hours of hard work can make.

“Projects like this are about more than maintaining a physical space – they also bring people together, encourage community pride and help make the area more welcoming for everyone.

“We are incredibly grateful to all our volunteers for their dedication, energy and enthusiasm – they are a great example of the positive impact community rail has on local spaces and communities.”

On Monday 10 August, Yorkshire Coast CRP facilitated a special day out by rail to Bridlington for a group of neurodivergent children and their parents supported by the Aim Higher charity in Hull. With support from Northern and TransPennine Express, the CRP was there for the families every step of the way, demonstrating how to navigate stations and trains with ease, building confidence for future safe and independent travel. Once at their destination, the children loved building sandcastles and splashing in the sea.

One family said: “Thank you for making this such an enjoyable day. We normally avoid using public transport, but by coming on this trip and getting support it has made all the difference.”

East Suffolk Lines CRP supported a special summer day out by rail on Wednesday 12 August for the CRP’s annual crabbing train. The adventure began in Ipswich, where each member of the 35-person strong group received a crab bucket and plastic-free crab line – which, if you hang on to, will grant you a discount on the rail ticket for next year’s event! After the short train journey to Woodbridge, the group took a stroll along the river to the Deben Yacht Club, where they enjoyed two hours of crabbing. There was plenty of excitement, a few competitive moments, and, of course, lots of peering into buckets to see what everyone had managed to catch.

5 August 2026

As part of our Travelling with Confidence programme, grant-funded by the Motability Foundation, Heart of England CRP has produced a video giving an insight into the co-created learning activities the partnership has been delivering alongside participants from the Life Path Trust. These trips support adults with learning disabilities to plan trips by public transport safely, confidently and independently, aiming to break down the barriers faced by disabled people to rail travel.

The CRP is excited to receive a second round of funding through the programme, which will begin with a new day opportunities partner, iLEAP, in September 2026.

The volunteers comprising New Malden Residents’ Association have celebrated a special figure at their adopted station. On 5 July, Dewan Sehmi celebrated 50 years working on the railway, having begun his career as a porter at Hampton Court and working at various station across London, most recently in the ticket office at New Malden. The teams from New Malden Residents’ Association and Malden & Coombe Heritage Society recognised the day by presenting Dewan with a small gift and commemorative cards, and we were delighted to be joined by Dewan’s daughter, Sejal.

Sejal said: “I have seen my dad’s passion to give the best service to his customers by providing detailed information and guidance on their journey. His positive energy and friendly nature is so heart-warming to see, and the love and support he received from his longstanding customers after his heart attack was a real reflection of the impact he had in the local community.”

The Friends of Hartlepool Station were delighted to award a local Scouts group with their Platforms for Change badges at the end of June. MP for Hartlepool Jonathan Brash presented the young people with their awards, praising the work they had undertaken to improve the station environment and welcome passengers from all over the country through various gardening projects. The volunteers have developed an ongoing partnership with the Scouts group, engaging the youngsters with community rail activities at their station. Scouts group leaders also presented Colin Griffiths, chair, and Michael Anderson, secretary, with a special plaque, thanking them for providing their young people with the opportunity to be involved with the Friends’ vision for the station.

The Friends of Goostrey Station recently hosted a stall at Goostrey Rose Day, joined by a local student who has been volunteering alongside the team as part of his Duke of Edinburgh award. Together the group displayed photos and information about their latest projects, spoke with visitors and the community about the array of community rail activity that takes place at the station, and conducted a questionnaire to gather information on people’s travel behaviour and opinions of the station, as well as potential future improvements.

As part of Hymers College’s annual Year 12 community action day, Yorkshire Coast CRP supported 18 students to engage in community rail activity at Cottingham Station. The students worked with station adopters Working for Health CIC, who are based in one of the station buildings. After receiving a safety briefing, the young people set to work on various tasks around the station, including gardening, weeding and fence painting – all perfect preparation for the station’s imminent Yorkshire in Bloom competition judging.

Educational visits & community events coordinator at Hymers College, Emily Powell, said: “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Working for Health for hosting us at Cottingham Station, and to the Yorkshire Coast CRP for organising this project with us. This is our fourth year of collaborating on station projects for our Hymers College community day, and we remain incredibly proud of this enduring partnership and its positive impact.”

Yorkshire Coast CRP officer, Rachel Osborne, said: “We love when our station adopters partner with local schools and colleges. The students now feel a real sense of pride in this station and that’s what community rail is all about.”