South Wales Community Rail Partnership Shortlisted For National Awards
South West Wales Connected Community Rail Partnership (CRP) has been shortlisted in the National Community Rail Awards 2025 in the category of Empowering Diverse Groups.
The shortlist announcement for the Community Rail Partnership is particularly special as it falls in a double-anniversary year. The Awards are celebrating 20 years of showcasing inspiring initiatives from across the community rail as the wider railway industry celebrates 200 years since the birth of modern railways.
The South West Wales Connected CRP’s project focused on making rail travel a more inclusive, enjoyable, and sustainable experience for diverse community groups across the region. Aptly named ‘Joy of the Journey’, the project hosts up to three train journeys a month spanning routes from Neath Port Talbot to Pembrokeshire via Swansea and Carmarthen.
Funded by Transport for Wales and Great Western Railway, ‘Joy of the Journey’ exemplifies how rail travel can be accessible, convenient and a powerful way to bring communities together. The project’s impact is already evident, with community groups such as the National Autistic Society, transgender support group Sadie’s Butterflies, and the veterans’ charity VC Gallery embracing the opportunity for memorable days out. Each journey is thoughtfully designed to meet the unique needs of its participants, showcasing rail travel as a mode of connection, empowerment, and fun.
The winners will be announced at a high-profile Awards Ceremony in Newcastle on Thursday 13 March 2025, headline partnered by Lumo.
The Awards, organised by Community Rail Network, recognise a diverse array of projects supporting social inclusion, sustainable travel, empowered communities, and economic development. The evening demonstrates how the community rail movement builds links, positivity and awareness between local people and their railways, benefitting communities and often changing lives.
Eve Sherratt, Community Rail Officer at South West Wales CRP, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted at the Community Rail Awards for our Joy of the Journey project. This recognition means so much to us, as the project highlights the importance of bringing joy, connection, and meaningful experiences to diverse community groups. It’s a huge celebration of how rail travel can bring communities together and create lasting memories along with tackling social isolation after the recent pandemic and helping to increase rail confidence, and we’re so proud to see its impact being recognised.”
Sarah Chilton, director of communications and policy at Community Rail Network, said: “2025 is a very special year for community rail and the wider railway industry, and we’re delighted to see so many inspiring award entries showcasing amazing people, projects and initiatives from across our growing, grassroots movement.
“Huge congratulations to Conwy Valley and North Wales Coast Community Rail Partnership for being shortlisted. We’re looking forward to joining them and our community rail colleagues and industry partners to celebrate their hard work, positivity, and dedication at our Awards evening in March.”