So what’s Community Rail all about then?

Well, the clue’s in the title of course. Its purpose is to connect communities to their railway. But why? To create social, economic and environmental benefit. And that’s where it gets really interesting because that enables an extremely broad range of activity.

Social

Projects could work with disadvantaged or marginalised groups in the community. They could help to tackle loneliness, or to promote wellbeing and good health.

Economic

Other projects might work with local companies to promote local products or local businesses.

Environmental

Planting on and around stations can support wildlife corridors.

But the most successful projects do more than just one thing.

An art project aimed at making a station a more attractive place to be can have an impact not only on the people engaged in creating the artwork. It will also have a positive impact on the people using the station, it might even encourage more people to visit, so helping the local economy.

Designing a series of walks or wheeling / cycling routes from station to station or around towns or villages along the line can lead to better health outcomes for local people and visitors alike and it can bring increased footfall to local businesses, not to mention the environmental impact of promoting travel by train followed by a walk or cycle ride.

Of course, installing a bug or bee hotel at a station brings environmental benefits but depending on who is commissioned to make that hotel, it can also have social benefits too.

But what prompted me to write this article? Well, I’ve just come back from the Community Rail Network annual conference in Derby. Alongside discussions about the big issues of the moment: the transition to Great British Railways and devolution to name but two, delegates also had the opportunity to hear about all the amazing projects taking place or being planned by colleagues across the country. Such an amazing opportunity to learn from each other. So many great ideas! Plenty to get on with then!