Community Rail

Community Rail

Our network is home to wonderful range of groups who have all stood up from their communities to take ownership of their local lines and stations. All over the UK, 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 help bring stations 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 to providing community information and safety education.

Community Rail Network

The 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.
If you want to know more about Community Rail Network, click here to visit their site.

Community Rail Partnerships

Community rail partnerships are the backbone of the community rail movement, bringing together local groups and partners along railway lines to work with industry, and delivering a range of community engagement and promotional activities. Across our part of the world TransPennine works with and supports 23 Community Rail Partnerships. Their work is fantastic and deserves recognition, so please get to know them with us: 

6VT Youth CRP

Barton Cleethorpes CRP

Bentham Line CRP

Bishop Line CRP

Bolton & South Lancashire CRP

Borders Railway Community Partnership

Clitheroe Line CRP

Crewe - Manchester CRP

Cumbrian Coast CRP

East Lancashire CRP

East Lothian CRP

Esk Valley Railway Development Co.

Furness Line CRP

High Peak & Hope Valley CRP

Lakes Line CRP

Mid-Cheshire CRP

North Notts & Lincs CRP

Penistone Line Partnership

Settle - Carlisle Railway Development Co.

South Fylde Line CRP

Tyne Valley CRP

West Lancashire CRP

Yorkshire Coast CRP

Station Adoption

Station adoption is when a group of volunteers, or an existing community group or organisation,‘adopts’ a station, getting local people involved in the station and railway through volunteering. At least 1,000 of these station adoptions or‘ station friends’ groups have been set up, covering well over a third of Britain’s stations.

At TransPennine Express, we’re in the process of introducing a Station Adoption Scheme, so if you’re interested in adopting your local TransPennine Express station, please get in touch with our Community Manager.

Rail User Groups

In addition to our local CRP’s and other groups, we also work with Rail user Groups, or RUGs, set up by local commuters or users of service to advocate for users of our services.  We meet regularly with RUGs, build up relationships with their members, and try to work together to get the best possible solutions for everyone. Often those who travel on our trains have a different perspective to us, so we’re happy to have these relationships to help us be the best we can.