A growing, and vibrant, community of rail partnerships and groups across Great Britain.
Volunteers from Barclays Bank (Barnstaple branch); the Tarka Rail Association; Network Rail; the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and GWR
All over the country, groups work with communities to get the most from their railways. With the help of train companies, they promote social inclusion and sustainable travel, champion local improvements, and bring stations back to life.
Anyone can get involved. From those that use the train, to community groups and local businesses.
Volunteers give as much time as they want. And there's something for all. From gardening and cleaning to providing community information and safety education.
Download our Community Rail booklet to find out more (PDF, 7 MB)
Community Rail Network
Community Rail Network supports the groups and partnerships who connect communities with their railways.
It represents more than 60 Community Rail Partnerships and over 1,000 station adoption groups. In turn, they help deliver social, environmental, and economic benefits through local development.
Find out more about Community Rail Network.
Who we work with:
Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership
The Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership (DCRP) brings together local authorities, GWR and others to support the counties’ branch lines – benefiting local communities and the region’s economy alike.
North Downs CRP
The North Downs CRP works with the community to encourage people to travel by train.
From engaging with train companies to improve services to working with schools and businesses, their vision is that everyone should feel the local railway is theirs.
ThreeRivers CRP
The Three Rivers Rail Partnership is a group of local authorities, people, and train companies. It works to promote train and bus services and improve stations and services.
The train routes it covers run alongside, or cross, the Avon, Itchen, and Test rivers. The ‘Three Rivers’.
TransWilts CRP
TransWilts Community Rail supports the Swindon to Westbury route.
They aim to represent local rail users and encourage and promote more use among those living and working in Wiltshire.
Severnside CRP
The Severnside CRP is a Community Interest Company and covers all the lines radiating from Bristol. The main aspect of their work is ensuring that the 25, mainly unstaffed, local stations provide a safe and welcoming environment.
Scenic Rail Britain
Scenic Rail Britain's aim is to promote travel on the country’s most attractive branch lines, as well as some not so well-known gems.
The project is run by Community Rail Network and the site is aimed at international visitors as well as holidaymakers from Great Britain too.
South West Wales Connected CRP
Connecting Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Swansea & Neath Port Talbot for Sustainable Travel, Tourism, Leisure, Business & Well-Being.
Their aims are to innovate and develop new ways of working, to create greater economic, social and environmental value for communities served by the railway and for the wider region.
Worcestershire CRP
Worcestershire CRP works with local businesses, communities, and train companies to improve the 18 stations in the county and encourage rail use.
Through these links, it aims to help make local rail sustainable, viable, and enjoyable.
Gloucestershire CRP
Gloucestershire CRP activities focus on ‘bottom- up’ community outreach, station adoption, community events and activities through to key input into strategic land use planning decisions, connectivity of bus and cycle routes to stations, and behaviour change.
The Partnership area covers a network of nine stations including the Golden Valley Line, The North Cotswold Line, the main Birmingham to Bristol line and the Newport to Gloucester corridor.
Reading Basingstoke CRP
Rail services between Reading and Basingstoke are key interchanges with other routes across the country. The community rail partnership work with GWR to promote stations and services, integrated transport solutions, building communities and enhancing local tourism along with promoting destinations.
South Wessex CRP
Established in 2022 South Wessex CRP covers the Heart of Wessex Line south of Westbury, including all the stations and stops from Frome to Weymouth. The CRP actively works in connecting local communities to their railway and promotes travel and use of the whole line, from Bristol southwards.
Oxfordshire CRP
Oxfordshire Community Rail Partnership (OxCRP) is committed to improving access to sustainable transport, particularly supporting inclusion of under-represented groups. OxCRP takes a grassroots approach, empowering local communities to harness the transformative potential of rail connectivity, while bolstering sustainable tourism in the region.
Covering a network of 22 railways stations across the county, OxCRP works closely with residents, visitors, community organisations, local government, and transport operators. Our strategic framework is underpinned by local research, inclusive consultations, and community-led activities that advance sustainable transport and inclusion agendas in Oxfordshire.