'Rail User Groups' and 'Campaign Groups'
This section is divided into two parts, 'Rail User Groups' and ‘Campaign Groups’.
For Rail User Groups, click this box:
Campaign Groups are listed within this page. The groups are divided into 3 parts:
1. National and Regional Campaign Groups
2. Campaign Groups relating to Specific Railway Re-Openings
3. Government ‘Restoring Your Railway’ Fund: Successful Applications to Date
PART 1
NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CAMPAIGN GROUPS
This section is further divided into the following:
(A) Independent National Campaign Groups with Open Membership Structure
(B) Other Independent National Campaign Groups
(C) Regional Campaign Groups
(A) Independent National Campaign Groups with Open Membership Structure
Railfuture
For Railfuture, follow this link: www.railfuture.org.uk
Transport for All
Nature: A disabled-led group striving to increase access to transport and street space across the UK.
Membership: Free, open to all
Website: www.transportforall.org.uk
Email: See email addresses under ‘Take action – Contact’ on website
Facebook: www.facebook.com/transportforall
Twitter: www.twitter.com/transportforall
Scottish Association for Public Transport
Nature: Campaign group for efficient, sustainable and coordinated public transport in Scotland
Membership: Individuals £15, Pensioners, students, unwaged £8
Website: www.sapt.org.uk
Email: See website
(B) Other Independent National Campaign Groups
The Association of British Commuters
Nature: A grassroots campaign for justice and equality in public transport. Aim is the radical reform of the public transport system to support social, economic and climate justice across the UK.
Website: www.abcommuters.com
Email: contact@abcommuters.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/1208771822490198
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ABCommuters
Campaign for Better Transport
Nature: Established by certain trade unions, this is now a national charity working across England and Wales to make transport better, greener and fairer.
Website: www.bettertransport.org.uk
Email: Use contact box
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bettertransport
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cbtransport
Campaign for Family-Friendly Trains
Nature: Working for better facilities for children and their families on the UK rail network
Website: www.familyfriendlytrains.com
Email: See email addresses under ‘Contact Us’ on website
Campaign to Bring Back British Rail
Nature: Non-charitable campaigning body. A UK pressure group with the object of completing the renationalisation of Britain's railways.
Website: www.bringbackbritishrail.org
Email: info@bringbackbritishrail.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bringbackbritishrail
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bringbackbr
(C) Regional Campaign Groups
Campaign for Rail
Nature: Campaigning for and promoting the development of rail services in the West Midlands region, both passenger and freight. Working with the decision makers, liaising with rail companies and authorities at local and national level.
Membership: £10 per year
Magazine: West Midlands Rail User issued 3 times per year
Website: www.campaignforrail.org.uk
Email: contact-us@campaignforrail.org.uk
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064582311067&view_public_for=100134175129513&ref=page_internal
Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways
Nature: Campaigning for rail at the core of an integrated transport network for Bristol, Bath and the West of England
Membership: £10 for individual members/ £5 for concessions
Website: www.fosbr.org.uk
Email: Use contact box on website
Get Glasgow Moving
Nature: A grassroots public transport campaign founded in 2016 by local people.
Membership: Fee amount at discretion (minimum annual subscription is £1)
Website: www.getglasgowmoving.org
Email: Use contact box
Facebook: www.facebook.com/getglasgowmoving
Twitter: www.twitter.com/getglesgamoving
Transform Scotland
Nature: Scottish alliance for sustainable transport. Sister organisation to Campaign for Better Transport. Aims to bring together public, private and third sector organisations from across Scotland
Membership: Possible for certain approved organisations. Individuals can be ‘supporters’
Website: www.transformscotland.org.uk
Email: Use contact box
Facebook: www.facebook.com/transformscotland
Twitter: www.twitter.com/TransformScot
West Coast Rail 250
Nature: Campaigns for improved rail services along the West Coast Main Line to support economic growth and employment.
Website: www.westcoastrail250.co.uk
PART 2
CAMPAIGN GROUPS RELATING TO SPECIFIC RAILWAY RE-OPENINGS
This is a selected list of Campaign Groups which are campaigning in relation to the reopening of railway lines, and which have maintained websites and an active membership.
The RCD is a directory of societies and clubs, and so does not list projects or campaigns not organised on a society basis with a membership open to the public.
For a full list of campaign groups in whatever form, you may visit the following Railfuture page: www.railfuture.org.uk/display3380
1. ACE Rail
Campaign: To reopen the line from Bideford to Barnstable
Membership: ACE is a campaign of Tarka Rail Association (membership of TRA open to all)
Annual Subscription: £7
Newsletter: 3 per year
Contact: See email address in ‘Contacts’ section of website
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/950297745918116
Website: www.tarkarail.org
2. Bridge the Gap – Connect East Sussex
Campaign: To reopen the line from Uckfield to Lewis
Membership: Bridge the Gap is a campaign led by Railfuture (membership of Railfuture open to all)
Annual Subscription: Individual: £20/ Joint: £22/ Under 26: £14/ Business: £35
Newsletter: Quarterly magazine, ‘Railwatch’, and ‘Rail User Express’
Contact: roger.blake at railfuture.org.uk
Website: www.railfuture.org.uk/Uckfield-Lewes
3. Campaign to Re-Open the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL)
Campaign: To reopen the line from Leicester to Burton
Membership: 2 categories (‘Active Membership’ and ‘Supporter’)
Annual Subscription: £2.99 per month
Newsletter: Periodic by email
Contact: Use ‘Contact’ facility on website
Website: www.ivanhoeline.org
4. Combe Rail
Campaign: To reopen the line from Braunston to Barnstable
Membership: Open to all
Annual Subscription: £10 for year/ £250 for life membership
Newsletter: ‘The Devon Belle’ magazine is issued quarterly
Contact: info (at) combe-rail·org·uk
Website: www.combe-rail.org.uk
5. Don Valley Railway
Campaign: To reopen the line from Stocksbridge to Sheffield
Membership: Claims over 100 members, means of joining unclear from website
Annual Subscription: Unclear
Contact: Use ‘Contact’ facility on website
Website: www.donvalleyrailway.org
6. English Regional Transport Association (ERTA)
Campaign: (i) open part of the Great Central Railway as corridor link, (ii) reopen the Northampton to Market Harborough railway (iii) a Guildford-Horsham-Shoreham rail link (iv) East - West Rail variations and enhancements, including reopening Bedford to Northampton line) (v) Bedford area rail enhancements
Membership: Open to all
Newsletter: 6 per year
Annual Subscription: £15
Contact: See ‘Contact Us’ page on website
Website: www.ertarail.co.uk
7. Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways
Campaign: For integrated transport network in Bristol/ Bath area including new stations and re-opening lines in and around the area
Membership: Open to all
Annual Subscription: £10 individuals/ £5 concessions/ £1 under 18’s/ £25 organisations.
Newsletter: Three times per year
Contact: Use ‘Contact’ facility on website
Website: www.fosbr.org.uk
8. Lein Amlwch (Anglesey-Central-Railway)
Campaign: To reopen the line from Amlwch to Gaerwen connecting with national rail services
Membership: Open to all
Annual Subscription: Single: £10/ Family: £18/ Senior: £8
Newsletter: News pages on website
Contact: See email address in ‘Contacts’ section of website
Website: www.leinamlwch.co.uk
9. Manchester and East Midlands Rail Action Partnership (MEMREP)
Campaign: To reopen the line from Chinley to Matlock creating a Manchester- Derby rail corridor
Membership: Open to all
Annual Subscription: Single: £25/ 16 and Under: £12/ Couple: £35/ Family: £40
Newsletter: Update news on Facebook and Twitter
Contact: Use ‘Contact’ facility on website
Website: www.memrap.org
10. Minsters Rail Campaign
Campaign: To reopen the line from Beverley to York
Membership: Open to all
Annual Subscription: £10 a year/ Corporate Membership £50 per year
Newsletter: Occasional news items appear on website
Contact: contact@minstersrail.com
Website:www.minstersrail.com
11. Mid Cheshire Rail Link Campaign
Campaign: Rail user group for Mid Cheshire Line. Also campaigning to reopen Middlewich line (Northwich - Middlewich - Sandbach - Crewe line) to passenger services
Membership: Open to all
Annual Subscription: Adult: £8/ Under 21: £2/ Family: £11/ Voluntary body: £25/ Corporate: £100
Newsletter: ‘The Mid Cheshire Rail Report’ newsletter issued three or four times a year
Contact: Use ‘Contact’ facility on website
Website: www.mcrua.org.uk
12. Peak Rail and Peak Rail Association
Campaign: To reopen the line from Buxton to Matlock creating a cross Pennine rail corridor, for both regular passenger service and heritage rail operations
Membership: Open to all
Annual Subscription: Adult: £16. Senior: £12. Junior: £10
Newsletter: Magazine ‘The Peak Express’, issued three times a year
Contact: See Association website for list of email addresses
Website: Peak Rail: www.peakrail.co.uk
Peak Rail Association: www.peakrailwayassociation.co.uk
13. Portishead Railway Group
Campaign: To reopen the line from Portishead to Bristol
Membership: Open to all
Annual Subscription: £10 per household for life of the re-opening project
Newsletter: News pages on website
Contact: matthewsalan50 [at] gmail.com
Website: www.portisheadrailwaygroup.org
14. Poulton & Wyre Railway Society
Campaign: To reopen the line from Fleetwood to Poulton-le-Fylde connecting with national rail services, and consider heritage railway options
Membership: Open to all
Annual Subscription: £15 per adult/ £5 for juniors under 18/ Associate for groups: £20
Newsletter: Periodic magazine issued ‘On Track’
Contact: Use ‘Contact’ facility on website
Website:www.pwrs.org
15. Rail Haverhill
Campaign: To reopen the line from Haverhill to Cambridge
Membership: This is a campaign led by Railfuture (East Anglia) (membership of Railfuture open to all)
Annual Subscription: Individual: £20/ Joint: £22/ Under 26: £14/ Business: £35
Newsletter: Quarterly magazine, ‘Railwatch’, and ‘Rail User Express’
Contact: eastanglia@railfuture.org.uk
Website: www.railfuture.org.uk/East+Anglia+Haverhill
16. Skipton East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP)
Campaign: To reopen the line from Skipton to Colne, allowing passengers from East Lancashire to travel directly to Leeds in under60 minutes.
Membership: Open to all
Annual Subscription: £8 individual/ Concessions: £5/ Life: £60
Newsletters ‘At a Glance’ annual newsletter
Contact: info [at] selrap.org.uk
Website: www.selrap.org.uk
17. South East Northumberland Rail User Group (SENRUG)
Campaign: Rail user group for SE Northumberland area. Also campaigns to reopen lines in the area, including Ashington, Blyth and Tyne line
Membership: Open to all
Annual Subscription: £5 individual or couple/ £2.50 concessions/ Corporate Member: £10
Newsletter: Two or three times per year
Contact: Use ‘Contact’ facility on website
Website: www.senrug.co.uk
18. Swanage Railway
Campaign: Heritage Railway based at Swanage. Also campaigning to link its heritage line with Wareham station on national network for regular passenger and heritage rail services (‘Project Wareham’)
Membership: Swanage Railway Trust
Annual Subscription: Adult: £26. Junior: £15. Family: £52. Life £1,000
Newsletter: Regular editions of the ‘Swanage Railway Magazine’
Contact: info [at] swanagerailway.co.uk
Website: www.swanagerailway.co.uk
19. Wisbech Rail Reopening Campaign
Campaign: To reopen the line from Wisbech to March
Membership: This is a campaign led by Railfuture (East Anglia) (membership of Railfuture open to all)
Annual Subscription: Individual: £20/ Joint: £22/ Under 26: £14/ Business: £35
Newsletters: Quarterly magazine, ‘Railwatch’, and ‘Rail User Express’
Contact: eastanglia@railfuture.org.uk
Website: www.wisbechrail.org.uk
PART 3
GOVERNMENT ‘RESTORING YOUR RAILWAY’ FUND: SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS TO DATE
In January 2020, the Government pledged £500million for the Restoring Your Railway Fund, to deliver on its manifesto commitment and start reopening lines and stations as part of its levelling-up agenda.
In June 2022 the Government published an update providing an overview of all the schemes in the programme, their progress, and the approaches being taken going forward.
Successful schemes were listed by their stage in the programme as follows:
- Schemes Being Delivered
- Schemes Progressing Past Strategic Outline Business Case
- Schemes Developing to Strategic Outline Business Case
As of November 2021, the Restoring your Railway Fund has not accepted new proposals and the Government is focussing on realising the benefits of existing schemes to regenerate local economies and improve access to jobs, homes and education.
We list below the successful projects under the Restoring Your Railway Fund. Where campaign groups exist relating to a project, the name and website address of that group is also stated.
Schemes Being Delivered
The most developed schemes in the programme are progressing at pace to reconnect communities as soon as possible.
A1. Dartmoor Line, Exeter to Okehampton (South West)
Reopen line and new passenger service: Service introduced May 2022
Campaign Group: Dartmoor Railway Association and OkeRail
www.dartmoor-railway-association.org
A2. Edginswell Station (outskirts of Torquay) (South West)
New Station: To be opened early 2024
A3. Marsh Barton Station (between Exeter St Thomas and Starcross) (South West)
New Station: Opened in July 2023
A4. Northumberland Line (North East)
Reopen line and new passenger service: Service to be introduced late 2023/ early 2024
Campaign Group: South East Northumberland Rail User Group
A5. St Clears Station (Wales)
New Station: To be opened early 2024
A6. Thorpe Park Station (east of Leeds, on the Selby line) (Yorkshire)
New Station: To be opened early 2024
A7. Thanet Parkway Station (on Ramsgate - Canterbury - Ashford line) (South East)
New Station: Opened 2023
A8. White Rose Station (between Cottingley and Morley stations on Huddersfield line (Yorkshire)
New Station: To be opened in 2023/2024
[* The following projects technically pre-date and are not strictly speaking part of the Restoring Your Railway Fund process]
A9. Portway Park & Ride* (new station on the Severn Beach line, Bristol)
New Station: Opening 2023
Campaign Group: Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways
A10. Reading Green Park*
New station at end of short former freight line at Green Park, Reading
Station: Opened 2023
Schemes Progressing Past ‘Strategic Outline Business Case’
Schemes that have already developed an SOBC, either with funding from RYR or prior to the programme’s inception, and are being supported to develop further.
B1. Aldridge Line upgrade and new station (West Midlands)
Open new station at Aldridge (situated on current freight line from Walsall)
B2. Deeside Parkway, new station (Wales)
New station at Deeside (situated between Neston and Hawarden Bridge on Borderlands Line).
Campaign Group: Wrexham-Bidston Rail Users’ Association
B3. Fleetwood line reopen (North West)
Reopen line to connect Fleetwood with national rail system
Campaign Group: Poulton & Wyre Railway Society
B4. Devizes, new parkway station (South West)
Open new station near to Devizes (at Lydeway on Berks & Hants main line)
B5. Ferryhill, new station
New station at Ferryhill, Ferryhill - Stockton on Tees (North East)
Campaign Group: Ferryhill Station Campaign Group
www.facebook.com/groups/ferryhill/?locale=en_GB
B6. Haxby, new station (Yorkshire)
New station at Haxby (on York - Scarborough line)
B7. Sheffield to Chesterfield service via Barrow Hill (Yorkshire)
Reopen freight line to passenger services
B8. Leicester to Burton (Ivanhoe) line (East Midlands)
Reopen freight line to passenger service
Campaign Group: Campaign to Re-Open the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL)
B9. Meir, new station (North Staffordshire)
Re-open station
B10. Mid Cornwall Metro
Direct services between Newquay, St. Austell, Truro and Falmouth (South West)
B11. Portishead line and station (South West)
Reopen freight line to passenger services with new station at Portishead
Campaign Group: Portishead Railway Group and Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways
www.portisheadrailwaygroup.org
B12. Totton to Hythe line (South East)
Reopen line to passengers (the ‘Waterside line’)
Campaign Group: Waterside Community Railway
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/WatersideRailwayPassengerService?locale=en_GB
B13. Wellington and Cullompton, new stations (South West)
Re-open stations on Taunton – Exeter line.
Schemes Developing to ‘Strategic Outline Business Case’
A Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) is one of the earliest stages in considering a transport intervention. The focus of this stage is to define the transport problem, set out the objectives of the scheme, and explore the options for intervention.
C1. Ashton - Stockport line, reopen to passenger services (North West)
C2. Askern, reopen station (Yorkshire)
Campaign Group: Friends of Askern Railway Station
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/1568948423354427/?locale=en_GB
C3. Beeston Castle and Tarporley, new Station on Crewe - Chester line (North West)
Campaign Group: Campaign to re-open the station at Beeston
www.tarporleystationcampaign.co.uk
Facebook Group: Beeston and Tarporley Station Reopening Group
www.facebook.com/groups/748742379233545
C4. Beverley - York line, reinstate line (Yorkshire and Humberside)
Campaign Group: Minsters Rail Campaign
C5. Bolton-Radcliffe / Bolton-Bury, reopen line and new passenger service (North West)
C6. Consett-Newcastle, reopen line and new passenger service (North East)
C7. Corsham, reopen Station (South West)
C8. Darlington - Weardale line, reopen to passenger services (North East)
C9. Don Valley line (Stocksbridge to Sheffield), reopen to passenger services (Yorkshire)
Campaign Group: Don Valley Railway
C10. Gaerwen - Amlwch, reopen line on Anglesey (Wales)
Campaign Group: Lein Amlwch (Anglesey-Central-Railway)
C11. Gainsborough - Barton, reopen line and new passenger service (Yorkshire and Humberside)
C12. Langport and Somerton, new station on Castle Cary - Taunton line (South West)
Campaign Group: Langport Transport Group
C13. Mablethorpe to Firsby line, reopen line (East Midlands)
C14. Middlewich line, reopen to passenger services (North West)
Campaign Group: Mid Cheshire Rail Link Campaign
www.facebook.com/MidCheshireRail/?locale=en_GB
C15. Oswestry - Gobowen line, reinstate line (West Midlands)
C16 Preston - Blackpool South line, enhanced existing passenger services (North West)
C17. Rawtenstall - Bury (Buckley Wells), utilise part of heritage line to passenger services (North West)
C18. St Anne's Park, new Station on Bristol - Bath Spa line (South West)
Campaign Group: Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways
C19. Stoke - Leek line, reopen mothballed freight line (West Midlands)
C20. Stonehouse Bristol Road station, reopen (South West)
Campaign Group: Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways
C21. Tavistock to Plymouth line, reopen line and station (South West)
Campaign Groups: Tavyrail and Northern Route Working Group
www.northernrouteworkinggroup.wordpress.com
C22. Wareham - Swanage line, utilise existing heritage line for new passenger service (South West)
Campaign Group: Swanage Railway
C23. Waverley, new station at Sheffield - Chesterfield (Yorkshire)