Heart of England CRP launches ‘Rail Tales’ creative writing competition
The railways have always inspired stories, from children’s classics such as The Railway Children to Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. With the UK gearing up to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the modern railway in 2025, Heart of England Community Rail Partnership is delighted to have partnered with the Stratford Literary Festival on an […]
South Asian women’s group enhance and brighten Accrington Station
A group of women who have volunteered to take care of Accrington Station said they want to showcase the town they are proud to call home. Around 20 women have adopted Accrington Station, which is operated by Northern and used by more than 465,000 people a year. It began when Shahiesta Raja, Community Rail Education […]
‘Carnival Train’ supports communities to attend Notting Hill Carnival by rail
Passengers have enjoyed a kaleidoscope of colour at 125mph as community rail partnerships and Great Western Railway (GWR) joined forces to run the annual Notting Hill ‘Carnival Train’. The Carnival Train was organised by GWR’s REACH employee network (Recognising Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage), with support from Severnside Community Rail Partnership and Reading Basingstoke Community Rail […]
Community Rail News – 21 August 2024
Hello everyone. We hope you are enjoying the last few weeks of summer. Changing landscape of social media As our towns and cities continue to recover from the violence and unrest of the past few weeks, we, like many organisations and individuals, have taken time to reflect on the role of social media, particularly Twitter […]
Exchange ideas for education and youth engagement resources at next Network
The Community Rail Education Network met on Thursday 15 August to share ideas and resources for the 2024-25 Backtrack Competition. The creative anti-trespass competition is currently in its fifth year, and the winning entries will form part of a Rail Safety Week broadcast in collaboration with Learn Live. The session focused on how members can engage […]
Independent review outlines bold vision for future of UK’s rail and urban transport
An independent review informed by experts from across the transport industry has called for ambitious plans to ensure a greener, more inclusive, and efficient UK transport network. The Rail and Urban Transport Review, commissioned by the Labour Party while in opposition in December 2023, was supported by more than 100 written submissions, including from Community […]
Community Rail Network board enjoy visit to Bishopstone
The Community Rail Network board was delighted to hold its recent away day and meeting at Bishopstone Station, where it has supported the Friends of Bishopstone Station (FoBS) and Southeast Communities Rail Partnership to develop the station into a thriving community hub. Board members arrived on Thursday 1 August, having travelled on the Sussex Downs […]
Promoting sustainable onward travel from Bempton Station to RSPB nature reserve
A Yorkshire RSPB nature reserve has been given an enhanced presence at Bempton Station with the installation of a new noticeboard. The new signage, provided by the Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnership (CRP) with support from Northern, aims to encourage more passengers to use the train to visit Bempton Cliffs Nature Reserve. Only a 1.5 […]
Brundall Gardens Station celebrates 100-year anniversary
Celebrations took place at Brundall Gardens Station earlier this month to mark 100 years since the station opened. The station, on the Norwich to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft ‘Wherry Lines’ rail route, opened on 1 August 1924, in response to the increasing number of tourists who were making their way to the lakes and waterways […]
Tourism Network members enjoy exploring Edale Station and Hope Valley Line
Members of the Community Rail Tourism Network recently spent a delightful day out exploring the scenic Hope Valley Line with colleagues from High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership (CRP) and Community Rail Network. The visit was the second in a series, the first being held in Lowestoft earlier in the year, aimed at […]
