A shortlist has been announced for the finalists in the 2024 Community Rail Awards that recognise those who work to make Britain’s railway stations welcoming spaces for both passengers and visitors.

This is the 19th year of the awards which are aimed at those in community rail, often volunteers, who perform vital work in engaging with schools, colleges, and other local groups to help educate and secure passengers of the future.

Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales are jointly sponsoring the awards, and the winners will be announced at a high-profile ceremony in Swansea on Monday, 18 March 2024.

Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said: “Our Community Rail Awards showcase the amazing projects, initiatives, and people across Britain that make community rail. This year we’ve received 200 submissions and as always, the standard of entries has been extremely high. We’re looking forward to joining our community rail colleagues and industry partners to celebrate their hard work, positivity, and dedication at our awards evening in March.”

Another Community Rail event opened last Wednesday, 13 December , which is the Community Rail Photography Competition where people can vote for the photo they think captures the essence of community rail. Votes can be cast at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CRA2024

The categories on this year’s Community Rail Awards are:

• Involving Children and Young People – sponsored by LNER;
• Empowering Diverse Groups – sponsored by East Midlands Railway;
• Community Creative Projects and Station Arts (separate categories for large and medium groups and small groups) – sponsored by Avanti West Coast;
• Small Projects Award (£500 or less) – sponsored by Community Rail Lancashire;
• Most Effective Communications Campaign – sponsored by West Midlands Trains;
• Best Community Engagement Project – sponsored by SLC Rail;
• Tourism & Leisure Award – sponsored by Scenic Rail Britain;
• Photo Competition: Capturing the essence of community rail – sponsored by Porterbrook;
• Influencing Positive Change & Sustainability – sponsored by RSSB;
• Most Enhanced Railway Spaces – sponsored by Greater Anglia;
• It’s Your Station (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum categories) – sponsored by Merseyrail;
• Outstanding Volunteer Contribution – sponsored by Eversholt Rail.