Our Changeprint
Our Changeprint can be measured by the number of people who turn to their local railway services; reducing the volume of traffic on our roads and carbon emissions in the atmosphere; easing cost-of-living pressures and contributing to local economies; promoting social inclusion and reducing isolation; and by giving communities a louder voice regarding their local public transport needs.
Our story
It’s no surprise to learn that we need a national strategy to fix our railways. The surprise for many is that local, community-led partnerships are an integral part of the solution.
Nationally, Britain’s passenger railways are returning to public ownership as the government brings all remaining contracts into public control to create a more integrated and cost-effective service. As of mid-2026, 11 of the 16 major rail operators are already in public hands with the remainder transferring as their current contracts expire, by the end of 2027. Then it will up to Great British Railways to do a better job.
But the opportunities for improvement does not rest solely on GBR’s shoulders or a top-down approach. Community rail partnerships across the UK help bridge the gap locally between train operators and the public. They are grassroots collaborations where local volunteers, community groups and local authorities partner with the railway industry with one simple aim in mind: to improve and promote local railway lines and stations.
In Lancashire, it started in 2001 with the West of Lancashire Community Rail Partnership and has since spread across the county with the formation of Community Rail Lancashire in 2016 to coordinate a growing movement.
Initiatives have varied depending on local needs and opportunities along the railway line. For example, running educational programmes such as Feel Good Field Trips and Try The Train, to boost sustainable travel. Working with the National Autistic Society to set up the first Autism Friendly Railway Line. Supporting local station enhancements with public art and environmental projects.
Today, Lancashire has four community rail partnerships under Community Rail Lancashire that cover a total of seven lines and together make up one of the biggest groups of community rail partnerships in the UK.
Our advice
Start with the community, not the railway. Passenger growth often follows naturally by doing things like running education programmes about the local network for young people; promoting local tourism and how it’s served by different lines; focusing on social inclusion and solutions that reduce isolation in more rural areas.
Build a broad partnership. Community rail partnerships should not consist mainly of railway organisations. Instead, consider groups and organisations with different primary interests who could also see the railway as their asset. For example, local authorities and town councils, schools and colleges, tourism organisations, cycling and walking groups, disability organisations, art and heritage groups, and environmental organisations.
Focus on what you can control. Community rail partnerships can sometimes share the same frustrations as passengers, relating to decisions around ticket prices, timetables, staffing levels and infrastructure investment. Instead, focus on areas where local partnerships genuinely have influence: improving stations and first or last mile journeys for people; promoting local destinations and encouraging rail use; building community ownership and placemaking around local stations.
