The Department does not award funding directly to Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) – funding to CRPs is awarded via the Community Rail Network (CRN) and Train Operating Companies (TOCs). The CRN provide access to grants and resources for its members (a mix of CRPs and Station Adoption Groups).

The Department has granted over £800,000 of funding to the CRN in this financial year (FY 2025-2026). Funding from the Department has remained at a consistent level since 2019-20.

The Department will set out the funding for 2026-27 at the start of the next financial year. As we move towards establishing Great British Railways (GBR), the Community Rail movement will be integral to helping us deliver our priorities and will continue to deliver for passengers and communities. We will continue to support the community rail sector ahead of the standup of GBR.

Community Rail delivers projects which bring benefits to local rail through social, environmental, and economic growth. Work carried out by Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) includes projects to establish community hubs in underused station spaces, creation and maintenance of gardens at stations, and supporting all members of the community to travel with confidence, for example by improving station environments to accommodate all members of the community. These projects help improve the safety and inclusivity of the railway, as well as encouraging rail travel as a more sustainable mode of transport.

The Department has granted over £800,000 to the Community Rail Network (CRN) via core and project funding in this financial year (FY 2025-2026). The CRN provide access to grants and resources for its members (a mix of CRPs and Station Adoption Groups). Whilst the Department does not directly fund CRPs, financial support is provided directly via the train operating companies.

The Department continues to support the community rail sector, and as we move towards establishing Great British Railways (GBR), Community Rail will be integral to helping us deliver our priorities and will continue to deliver for passengers and communities. We will continue to work closely with the Community Rail Network to identify opportunities to support the community rail sector ahead of the standup of GBR.

Officials have not yet received a proposal for a community rail partnership from c2c. We understand the operator will be sharing a proposal in 2026/27 and officials will consider how this might best be facilitated.

In terms of merits, Community Rail Partnerships bring benefits to local communities through social, environmental, and economic growth. Projects help improve the safety and inclusivity of the railway, as well as encouraging rail travel as a more sustainable mode of transport.

Officials have not discussed with Network Rail or relevant local authorities; however, officials have discussed establishing a community rail partnership with c2c which both parties see value in.

Next steps would include building the proposal and securing sufficient funding; officials will continue to explore what opportunities there might be in future business planning rounds.

Community Rail Partnerships (CRP) are awarded funding from both the Community Rail Network (CRN) and train operating companies. CRPs then allocate funding to station adopter groups within their catchment. Funding has remained at a consistent level since 2019-20.

The Department continues to support the accreditation process for Community Rail Partnerships (CRP). The Community Rail Network (CRN) reviews processes, accounts, and governance and recommends to the Department when a CRP has met a certain standard of operation to receive accreditation. The Department works with the CRN to continuously improve this process while maintaining the aims of accreditation.

The Department engages with train operating companies on Community Rail on a regular basis, and train operating companies continue to provide funding for the CRPs they support.

The Government is committed to supporting Community Rail in the longer term, and the establishment of Great British Railways provides the opportunity to improve how we support this important programme. The Department will provide an update if there are any changes to the way in which Community Rail is delivered.

As we move towards establishing Great British Railways (GBR), the Community Rail movement will be integral to helping us deliver our priorities and will continue to deliver for passengers and communities. We will continue to work closely with the Community Rail Network to identify opportunities to support the community rail sector ahead of the standup of GBR.

The Community Rail Network (CRN) is a membership organisation which supports community-based groups and partnerships that connect their community with their railway. The Department provides funding towards the Network. Over £800,000 has been granted to the CRN via core and project funding in this financial year.

Support for wider Community Rail Partnerships is also provided via the Train Operating Companies. As we move towards establishing Great British Railways, the Community Rail movement will be integral to helping us deliver our priorities and will continue to deliver for passengers and communities.

As we move towards establishing Great British Railways (GBR), the Community Rail movement will be integral to helping us deliver our priorities and will continue to deliver for passengers and communities. We will continue to work closely with the Community Rail Network to identify opportunities to support the community rail sector ahead of the standup of GBR.

The Department continues to support the community rail sector across the north of England, including through funding for station adoption groups and Community Rail Partnerships. This support is delivered via train operating companies and through the Community Rail Network (CRN), who provide access to grants and resources to its members. As we move towards establishing Great British Railways, the role of Community Rail will be more important than ever. Community Rail will be integral to helping us deliver our priorities and will continue to deliver for passengers and communities in the north of England.

My Department is committed to supporting the community rail movement. Currently, Community Rail Partnerships are funded by their Train Operating Company, with funding amounts agreed as part of the annual business planning process. The process for the next financial year is currently underway.

Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) are at the heart of the Government’s Community Rail Development Strategy, which seeks to make it easier for the rail industry and local communities to work in partnership to do more to ensure the long term health of local services. ‘The Value of Community Rail Partnerships and the Value of Community Rail Volunteering’ report published in January 2015 has shown that CRPs pay for themselves, adding economic, social and environmental value whilst passenger use on community rail lines grew by an additional 2.8% each year compared to the national rail network or regional services. There are 39 community rail partnerships supporting 74 local rail lines in the UK.

Funding for individual partnerships is provided through a number of sources including private donations. Departmental funding for individual partnerships is provided through the franchise process. We cannot provide the annual cost to the public purse as the data which we hold does not differentiate between contributions made to cover core running costs of individual partnerships or those that are used to deliver projects on community rail routes. Additionally many partnerships receive funding from their local authorities in recognition of the innovative work they do supporting local objectives.

Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) are at the heart of the Government’s Community Rail Development Strategy, which seeks to make it easier for the rail industry and local communities to work in partnership to do more to ensure the long term health of local services. ‘The Value of Community Rail Partnerships and the Value of Community Rail Volunteering’ report published in January 2015 has shown that CRPs pay for themselves, adding economic, social and environmental value whilst passenger use on community rail lines grew by an additional 2.8% each year compared to the national rail network or regional services. There are 39 community rail partnerships supporting 74 local rail lines in the UK.

Funding for individual partnerships is provided through a number of sources including private donations. Departmental funding for individual partnerships is provided through the franchise process. We cannot provide the annual cost to the public purse as the data which we hold does not differentiate between contributions made to cover core running costs of individual partnerships or those that are used to deliver projects on community rail routes. Additionally many partnerships receive funding from their local authorities in recognition of the innovative work they do supporting local objectives.