Days Out by Rail - members' campaign toolkit
1 August to 31 August 2026
Our popular tourism and leisure campaign, Days Out by Rail, returns from 1–31 August, and we’re inviting community rail partnerships, station groups and partners to get involved.
Designed as a platform for community rail, the campaign helps members showcase local tourism offers, raise the profile of destinations and activities, and reach new audiences during the summer. Through the Scenic Rail Britain website and social media channels, we’ll be creating blogs and themed features to build a one-stop shop for community rail tourism inspiration across Britain.
We’re looking for local stories, recommendations and visitor experiences that make your area special – from hidden gems and family attractions to walking routes, food and drink experiences, community events and existing tourism projects.
By contributing, you’ll help inspire visitors while gaining additional opportunities to promote your own area through Scenic Rail Britain’s growing audience. We hope members will use the campaign as a springboard for their own summer marketing and promotions, helping to amplify the great work already taking place locally.
While the campaign encourages travel by rail, its primary focus is on showcasing the places, experiences and communities that community rail helps connect.
The information gathered from members will help shape content across three exciting themes:
- Local family favourites – showcasing community rail members’ local knowledge to highlight hidden gems, unique attractions and off-the-beaten-track family days out.
- Summer family days out for less – featuring affordable and free places to visit, alongside practical tips on travelling for less, including Railcards, advance fares and shorter journeys.
- Taste your way by rail – celebrating food and drink experiences that can be reached by train, including shining a spotlight on community rail food and drink trails.
To share information to include in the campaign, please email the details, including any photographs you have, to news@communityrail.org.uk.
For advice on how to get involved in the campaign or the type of content we’re looking for, please get in touch with Alice, who will be happy to help you make the most of the campaign.
Looking for our digital toolkit? Scroll to the end of this page to find useful assets to help you promote your local tourism offer.
Suggestions of how to get involved
There are lots of ways to get involved in this year’s Days Out by Rail campaign. We’ve included some suggestions below. However, you don’t necessarily need to do something new to join in, you may already be doing some of these activities during August that you can tag as being part of the campaign, or perhaps you want to use the campaign to promote previous tourism and leisure work you’ve delivered.
Content contributions
- Submit local highlights – share hidden gems, scenic spots, or family attractions accessible by train in your area. Submit via news@communityrail.org.uk
- Share your downloadable family activity packs with us. We will be promoting railway-themed fun at home for those unable to take the train this summer and we’re keen to showcase your family activity packs. Please send the link to news@communityrail.org.uk.
- Suggest themed itineraries – build family day trip ideas around the campaign’s themes, see above, and share them with your audience.
- Create short stories or blogs to feature on your website – write about memorable rail journeys, local legends, or historical insights linked to your community.
Make the most of existing projects
- Re-share previous tourism successes – use the campaign as an opportunity to give new life to successful tourism, leisure or visitor projects you’ve already delivered. Whether it’s a walking leaflet, trail, family activity, station guide or event, we’d love to help showcase it to a wider audience.
- Link Days Out by Rail to existing events – if you’re already running an event or activity during August, consider branding it as part of Days Out by Rail and using the campaign resources to help promote it.
Showcase your partnerships
- Highlight local partnerships – tell your audiences about the attractions, businesses, tourism bodies, local authorities or train operators you’re working with.
- Promote community rail impact – share examples of how your tourism work supports local economies, encourages sustainable travel, or helps communities thrive.
Support local businesses
- Champion local businesses – tell visitors about independent cafés, markets, shops, museums and attractions near your station or line. Days Out by Rail is a great opportunity to spotlight the businesses that help make your area unique.
- Create a ‘rail-friendly’ guide – produce a simple list of businesses, attractions or experiences within walking distance of stations and share it through your channels.
Inspire others in community rail
- Share ideas with fellow members – your projects and promotions could inspire other partnerships and groups across the community rail network. Join our Tourism Network group and continue inspiring others throughout the year. Speak to Alice for the dates of future sessions.
Visual engagement
- Share photos and videos – submit high quality images or short clips of destinations, events or rail journeys that we can use to promote your area. Ensure you have the right permissions and send to news@communityrail.org.uk.
- Host a photo challenge/competition – encourage your community to share their own rail-based adventures using the campaign hashtag: #DaysOutByRail
- Create reels or TikToks – showcase your area with short engaging videos that highlight what makes exploring by train special and the benefits for families. You could use it to highlight any family-focused schemes in the area such as baby sling libraries or cycle hire with facilities for younger ones.
Promotion
- Promote on social media – use our digital toolkit (see below) to share campaign content on your channels using the official hashtag: #DaysOutByRail
- Engage local influencers – partner with local bloggers or content creators to spotlight your area. Consider working with your local train operator who may already be working with influencers in the area.
- Collaborate with tourism partners – work with local tourism organisations or attractions to jointly promote rail-accessible experiences, you could suggest a social media takeover day or use the campaign as a conversation start for any potential partners you don’t have a relationship with.
Interactive activities
- Host a virtual event or Q&A – organise an online session to talk about your line or station and the attractions nearby. This could be aimed at visitors, local residents or community rail colleagues.
- Run a digital quiz or poll – engage audiences with fun facts or trivia about your area’s rail history or landmarks.
- Feature local voices – interview residents or station volunteers and share their fascinating stories online.
Digital toolkit
Social media
For suggestions linking in with each theme, please see the link below:
Example posts for sharing on various social media channels
For a simple, generic post to share on socials, see below:
We’re proud to support #DaysOutByRail this month, showcasing Britain’s hidden gems and lesser-known places to explore by train. Find out more: ScenicRailBritain.com/DaysOut
Graphics
Generic campaign graphic ready to use
Templates
Download and edit social graphic using Powerpoint
Canva link to edit graphic please make sure you make a copy of the designs before editing. You can do this by going to ‘File > Make a copy’.
Poster
Print this poster and ask to display it at local attractions and community hubs in your area
Download and edit poster using Powerpoint
Canva link to edit poster please make sure you make a copy of the designs before editing. You can do this by going to ‘File > Make a copy’.
Campaign logos
Scenic Rail Britain logos
Community Rail Network logos
If you would like support specific to your line or station about how to get involved, please get in touch with Alice Mannion, our campaigns & leisure promotions manager.