Community Rail Network

How fitting that today is #InternationalDayOfHappiness - we're still riding on such a high from last night's #CommunityRail Awards! 😍 We’re so grateful to our team, judges, sponsors and members for making the night so special 🥳 Catch up on all the action on our feed 👇 #CRA26

Well that’s it, our 2026 awards are over and what an evening it’s been! Congratulations to all our winners and everyone who entered 👏 It’s because of you that #CommunityRail is the incredible, inspiring movement it is. We couldn't be more proud of everything you do! 💟 #CRA26

Our outstanding CRP winner is @YorksCoastlines. Their passion for heritage, creative engagement and volunteering shines through everything they do. From nurturing station adopters to bringing local stories to life, this group makes rail more welcoming, accessible and fun💖 #CRA26

Our outstanding station group is @fsrahampshire. By planting, building, repairing and reimagining, these dedicated volunteers have transformed an overlooked corner of their station into a space filled with life, welcome and possibility 💕 #CRA26

And now, on with our final category of the night - another very special award! Sponsored by @Se_Railway, this award enables Community Rail Network to recognise a group that has delivered outstanding achievements and contributions to #CommunityRail over the past year 🎊 #CRA26

The Board’s Special Recognition Award goes to Jayne Sumner! As manager of @ESSCRP_ for 15 years, Jayne has been a shining role model, inspiring everyone around her and working tirelessly to connect communities and champion #CommunityRail 💚 #CRA26

Our penultimate category of the evening is the ‘Board’s Special Recognition Award’. This award is all about recognising an individual’s exceptional service to, or the championing of, #CommunityRail, especially over a longer time-period. Who do you think it could be? 🥁 #CRA26

Very well-deserved congratulations to our 2nd place winner Sandy Burn, volunteer with the Friends of Westerfield Station, and our 3rd place winner David Gibson, volunteer at Witham, Cressing and Braintree Freeport stations 🤗 #CRA26

It's @Dominic_Noades! Since joining @KentCRP1 as a teenager, Dominic has thrown himself into events, station projects, guided walks and even café shifts with fantastic enthusiasm, growing in confidence and becoming a brilliant advocate for #CommunityRail ❣️ #CRA26

We've seen what amazing contributions all our #CommunityRail volunteers make. The 'Outstanding Volunteer Contribution' award (sponsored by @CrossCountryUK) celebrates someone who's been nominated by colleagues for making an outstanding difference. Who do you think it is?🥰 #CRA26

Give it up for our 2nd place winner @TransWiltsCIC for 'Wiltshire Bingo Trains' and our 3rd place winner Kents Bank Station Library for 'The Pop-Up Station Buffet' 🏅 #CRA26

Our top winner is the Friends of Burton Joyce & Lowdham Station for 'Newark Brake Trials'. With only a modest budget, students designed, built and tested their own model carriages. The result was a joyful blend of learning, creativity and friendly competition 🚊 #CRA26

Let's reveal the winners of the 'Small Projects Award', sponsored by @HitachiRailENG 🏆 This award shows how a small budget can go a long way – with the right people involved, clever use of resources and some creative thinking, £500 can make a big difference 💰 #CRA26

A round of applause for our winning photos: 1st place, 'Brighouse Busy Lizzies’ by Friends of Brighouse Station; 2nd place, 'Hound Dog Blues on the Altrincham to Chester Music Train' by @FoAInterchange; 3rd place, 'Some Might Say' by Cromford Station Volunteers 📷 #CRA26

Now it's time for a familiar favourite - the Photo Competition, sponsored by Porterbrook. We asked you to submit images that captured the essence of #CommunityRail and you didn't disappoint! A whopping 1,967 public votes were cast as people chose their favourites 📸 #CRA26

Well done to our 2nd place winner Severnside CRP, @GWRHelp & Bridgwater Safeguarding Partnership Group for 'Resilient Futures: Bridgwater Safeguarding Response' and our 3rd place winner Glenfinnan Station Museum Trust for 'Glenfinnan Solar Snowplough Exhibition' 🎉 #CRA26

Our 1st place trophy goes to Community Rail Lancashire and Lancashire Archives for 'The English Queen'. Through immersive experiences and creative resources, young people were encouraged to explore the evolution of rail and its role within a more sustainable future 👑 #CRA26

Who's ready for the 'Influencing Positive Change & Sustainability' category, sponsored by @northernassist? This category highlights how #CommunityRail encourages climate-aware thinking & supports resilient, cohesive communities, leaving a legacy for the next generation 💚 #CRA26

Let's give it up for our 2nd place winner @glos_crp for 'The Story Express' and our 3rd place winner @SoutheastCRP for 'Annual Review 2024-25' 🎊 #CRA26

In 1st place we have @Abbeylinecrp for 'From Rail to Reel: Celebrating the Abbey Line through film'. Drawing on local community voices, the team created a warm, engaging short film that brought the line’s story to life - and it even premiered at an independent cinema 🎥 #CRA26