Community Rail Network and Trainline are embarking on a new partnership to showcase some of Britain’s most spectacular railway journeys and encourage sustainable tourism and leisure travel by rail.

Trainline is to become the headline sponsor of Community Rail Network’s tourism campaign Scenic Rail Britain, which inspires people to go greener with adventures by train.

Scenic Rail Britain provides people with the ideas and tools to use rail to seek out lines that offer epic landscapes, coastal views, picturesque countryside, and historical interest, as well as showcasing some of Britain’s hidden gems and lesser-known routes.

The Scenic Rail Britain website, social media channels and themed blogs feature inspiration and content from Britain’s 75 community rail partnerships and 1,200 station volunteer groups, which work at a grassroots level to engage local communities and promote rail as a key part of sustainable, healthy travel.

As the leading independent rail and coach travel platform selling tickets to millions of travellers worldwide every year, Trainline brings a wealth of experience to support the growth and development of the Scenic Rail Britain brand.

As leisure travel by rail continues to increase post-COVID, this new corporate partnership will help people to plan days out, short breaks, or longer travel by rail, offering informative line guides alongside practical information such as distance and journey times.

Encouraging modal shift from road to rail is a key priority for both partners, with evidence showing the importance of this to tackling the climate emergency and delivering local benefits:

• Trainline’s ‘I Came by Train’ campaign highlights that rail travel is on average seven times less polluting than car travel;
• Analysis by Community Rail Network indicates that for a 30-mile journey, travelling by train instead of a large petrol car can reduce emissions by up to 86%.

Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network said: “Many people don’t realise the scope for seeing Britain’s stunning landscapes and historic sites by rail, and making use of our wonderful, often little-known, community rail lines and stations is a great way to do this.

“Through Scenic Rail Britain we help to raise awareness about rail as one of the greenest ways to travel – especially when combined with walking, cycling and buses – while avoiding traffic jams, parking and pollution.

“That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with Trainline. We look forward to drawing on their expertise to grow community rail’s impact and encourage even more people to take greener, healthier scenic journeys by rail.”

Pete Wade, Chief Commercial Office at Trainline, said: “We’re delighted to partner with Community Rail Network and build wider public awareness of some of Britain’s most beautiful rail lines. Encouraging more interest in train travel and building demand for rail is important at every level, and we’re proud to help showcase rail’s hidden gems and bring them to a wider audience.”