Community Rail Network

Who we are

What is community rail?

Community rail is a growing grassroots movement made up of community rail partnerships and groups across Britain. They engage communities and help people get the most from their railways, promoting social inclusion and sustainable travel, working alongside train operators to bring about improvements, and bringing stations back to life.

About Community Rail Network

The Community Rail Network is a not-for-profit organisation supporting a growing ‘community rail’ movement, which helps communities get the most from their railways, promotes sustainable and inclusive travel, supports local development, and brings people together.

Community rail is made up of 75 community-based partnerships, plus more than 1,200 station friends volunteer groups and enterprises, striving to put railways and stations at the heart of communities across Britain. Activities range from station arts and gardening projects, to advising train operators on local needs, to enabling groups facing disadvantage to access new opportunities by rail, to promoting sustainable tourism. Increasingly, work is taking place across our network to promote wellbeing and mental health, forge social connections, celebrate diversity, and increase access to opportunity.

Our enthusiastic team of 19 is based in a range of locations around the UK, with an office in Huddersfield. We work together to support and advise our members, provide training, events and resources, and champion community rail and its unique insights. We believe in developing our staff and helping every team member reach their potential.