The Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnership (YCCRP) are celebrating national recognition after winning the Outstanding Contribution to Community Rail award at the 21stCommunity Rail Awards, for their innovative work engaging communities with their local railway.
The prestigious event, organised by Community Rail Network and supported by headline partner East Midlands Railway, took place in Derby on Thursday 19 March. A record-breaking 610 guests attended, including volunteers, community leaders and rail industry figures from across England, Scotland and Wales.
Judges reviewed more than 300 entries showcasing the extraordinary work taking place across Britain to connect communities with their railways.
The YCCRP were awarded the evening’s top honour in recognition of the amazing work they do along the Hull to Scarborough and Hull to Brough railway lines.
For nearly three decades, the YCCRP has been a driving force for community connection, heritage pride and confident rail use along the coast. In 2025 the partnership delivered another standout year, running events that made stations welcoming hubs, supporting young people to travel safely, and creating fun interactive ways for families to explore railways. Their unwavering support for station adopters has transformed stations into celebrated community spaces, while heritage projects like the barrow boy statue and book have preserved local storied for future generations.
Their most memorable achievement was in September 2025 when they created a moment of railway history by bringing together 239 people on the world’s longest station seat to mark Railway 200. This was an unforgettable celebration that captured national and international media attention.
The YCCRP is made up of volunteers from the community, local authorities, town and parish councils and train operating companies who meet monthly to plan their projects and activities.
YCCRP Chair Pete Myers said : “This award was the result of several years innovation and hard work by so many. So, congratulations and thanks to all of our team for their help and engagement. The YCCRP is far more than the sum of its parts, and we continue to achieve so much. We can allow ourselves a little well deserved celebration and reflection, but of course it’s the future that is important and we have a bright future on the Yorkshire Coast.”
YCCRP Rail Officer Rachel Osborne said : “I am so proud of our team who all work so hard and with such passion and enthusiasm to make the railway and stations more welcoming, inclusive and accessible. We feel honoured to be recognised in this way.”
Across Britain, the community rail movement continues to grow. There are now 76 community rail partnerships and around 1,300 volunteer station groups working with train operators, councils and local organisations to make rail travel more accessible, sustainable and connected to local communities.
Community Rail Network chief executive Jools Townsend, said: “Our awards celebrate the volunteers, community groups and local partnerships helping transform Britain’s railway stations into welcoming gateways to their communities.
“From supporting young people to travel independently, to creating greener stations and vibrant community spaces, these projects show how powerful local action can be.
“As the railway celebrates its 200th anniversary, community rail is helping ensure the network’s future is just as much about people and places as it is about trains and tracks. Ourcongratulations to the YCCRP and to all our winners, and thanks to everyone who supports and champions community rail, helping the movement to go from strength to strength.”
