Working with the Community

Northern is the railway industry leader on practical, innovative ways of working with the community. Much of this is delivered through the 17 Community Rail Partnerships we sponsor. We all get involved in a wide range of projects which bring the railway and local communities together.

In West Yorkshire we are working with the South Pennines Rail Partnership on a ground-breaking diversity project. In rural Cumbria we are working with youth groups to provide community facilities at stations.

Community Rail Partnerships

Our Community Rail Partnerships bring us together with local authorities, community groups and small businesses with a shared aim of bringing new life to our local lines. The results have been spectacular, with improved station facilities, additional services and more passengers.

Community Rail Partnerships are involved in a vast range of activities including marketing, community engagement and progressing small schemes which make a real difference, be it station improvements, extra services or improved bus, walking and cycling links to stations.

To view website links for the Community Rail Partnerships please click here

Stations in the Community

More and more of our community effort is going into stations.

Nearly every one of our 471 stations has a 'station adopter' who keeps a watchful eye on their station, reporting any problems such as vandalism or faults.

We have over 60 'station partnerships' which are a local equivalent of Community Rail Partnerships. They help us with station gardens, community information noticeboards, artwork and special events like station galas.

In some cases we have vacant property on stations which we can make available to community groups on favourable terms. Current projects are underway at Edge Hill, Littleborough, Todmorden and Mytholmroyd.