Around 200 members, MPs, rail industry partners and third-sector supporters gathered at the Palace of Westminster to celebrate the growing impact of the community rail movement.

Community Rail Network, the umbrella body for the grassroots movement, held a parliamentary reception to showcase the valuable work being delivered by community rail, putting railways and stations at the heart of local communities.

The event was hosted by Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings, Rye, and the villages, and guests from all over England, Scotland and Wales were also addressed by the Rail Minister Lord Hendy.

The reception shone a spotlight on the efforts of local community organisations and volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure that the railway remains accessible, sustainable, and integral to everyday life. It highlighted the hugely diverse activities of 75 community rail partnerships, which cover more than a third (35%) of Britain’s railways, and 1,300 station friends’ groups made up of more than 8,250 volunteers, who tend to more than half of the stations on the network.

Community rail members enjoyed the vital opportunity to engage in positive conversations with their local MPs, community rail colleagues, rail industry partners and third-sector supporters, emphasising the positive role the movement can play in progressing rail reform.

Bill Freeman, interim chief executive of Community Rail Network, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have held our parliamentary reception at the Palace of Westminster. We’d like to say a huge thank you to Helena Dollimore MP and Lord Hendy for their support in bringing community rail to the Houses of Parliament, allowing us to celebrate the tireless, tenacious work of hundreds of officers and thousands of dedicated volunteers in community rail, and the brilliant and beautiful things that happen when people and communities feel that their railway belongs to them.”

In his speech, Lord Hendy spoke of the importance of rail in driving the government’s ambitions of connectivity and growth, and the transformative impact of the railways over the past 200 years. A long-time supporter of the movement, he outlined the work done by community rail in caring for and promoting local railways and stations and encouraged close working relationships between community rail and the wider rail industry.

Community Rail Network used the event to share a new ‘postcard’ with key asks across integrated and sustainable transport, station buildings and land, accessibility and inclusion, and rail reform and devolution, highlighting the positive role community rail can play in these policy areas.

Mr Freeman said: “Our movement is uniquely placed to support a new era of rail: one that is more passenger-focused, locally responsive, and aligned with the social, environmental, and economic goals of the communities our members serve. Community rail is already rooted in local insight, collaboration, and innovation. It’s already helping to bridge gaps—between modes of transport, between communities and the railway, and between policy and lived experience.

“Rail reform is changing how our railway is owned and operates, devolution is shifting more transport decisions to regional and local leaders, and there is growing demand for more joined-up, integrated travel options that reshape local transport networks to better serve people and communities.

“These are big changes. They raise big questions. And for many of those questions, community rail can and must be part of the answer.”

For more information, go to communityrail.org.uk

GB Railfreight (GBRf) unveiled its new fleet of Class 99 locomotives at its Peterborough headquarters on July 18. The locomotives, initially unveiled whilst in production at Innotrans last year have been backed by Infracapital and Beacon Rail, costing an estimated £150 million.

The first two units were on display at the company’s Peterborough depot with GBRf expecting them to enter commercial service towards the end of the year. Dynamic testing is expected to begin next week.

GB Railfreight (GBRf) unveiled its new fleet of Class 99 locomotives at its Peterborough headquarters on July 18. The locomotives, initially unveiled whilst in production at Innotrans last year have been backed by Infracapital and Beacon Rail, costing an estimated £150 million.

The first two units were on display at the company’s Peterborough depot with GBRf expecting them to enter commercial service towards the end of the year. Dynamic testing is expected to begin next week.

The company has ordered 30 of the vehicles from the manufacturer Stadler, with the full fleet expected to be in full traffic in 2027, with a gradual introduction happening until then.

The locomotives are dual-mode, operating seamlessly on electric lines as well as capable of switching to renewable fuels. GBRf claims that this will halve carbon emissions compared to traditional diesel engines.

Speaking at the event, John Smith, CEO of GBRf, emphasised the importance of the new fleet: “A phenomenal amount of effort has gone into this locomotive from all the teams involved, and I truly believe this is the start of the next generation in rail freight.

“The Class 99 locomotives set a new benchmark for performance. We had to prove we had a business model that would work and that is never easy, so for everybody who has stood by us, we thank them for their support.”

In his speech at the event, Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, welcomed the project, adding that he had “no doubt, this locomotive will be the next icon of Britain’s freight railways.”

He added: “This innovation, built by Stadler, financed by Beacon Rail and introduced to us by GBRf is going to lead the rail freight sector and demonstrate to it and the rest of the world that Britain is at the front.”

Also at the event was Adam Cunliffe, CEO of Beacon Rail, who said; “The arrival of the Class 99s marks an important step forward for rail freight in the UK. They reflect Beacon’s commitment to investing in modern, efficient, and lower-carbon transport solutions that are built to meet the needs of an evolving industry and changing world.”

Smith did express his frustration at the lack of investment in the rail freight sector, in comments likely aimed at the rail minister.

He added; “We should not forget that rail freight has been a success throughout privatisation, and minister, you need to be very careful, we and the number of customers here today are very concerned, that despite the strong words we are hearing, which are very welcome, we need more certainty than that.

“We need the security of capacity, an affordable charging regime and assurance that we don’t become marginalised in an integrated network.”

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Voestalpine Railway Systems, part of leading steel and technology group Voestalpine and global leader in railway infrastructure solutions, has acquired 100% of the shares in Hird Rail Services Limited, based in Doncaster, UK. This acquisition strengthens Voestalpine Railway Systems strategic position in the UK market, particularly in the field of insulated joints, where Hird Rail Services is recognised as a quality leader.

Hird Rail Services is a respected manufacturer of premium insulated joints, delivering products known for their exceptional quality, durability, and technical precision. As a long-standing partner to the UK rail infrastructure sector, Hird Rail Services adds specialist manufacturing competence and strong local market knowledge to the Voestalpine Railway Systems Group.

“With Hird Rail Services, we are integrating a proven expert whose products meet the highest technical standards – especially in the safety-critical area of insulated joint technology. This step is fully aligned with our UK strategy to combine global excellence with strong local presence,” said Franz Kainersdorfer, member of the board of voestalpine AG and head of Metal Engineering Division to which Voestalpine Railway Systems belongs.

The Doncaster site will remain operational and become a competence centre for insulated joint technology within the voestalpine Railway Systems group. Hird Rail Services will continue to operate under its existing brand and be integrated into the global production and logistics network of voestalpine Railway Systems.

Image credit: Ben Harrison Photography