3 Counties Connected Community Rail Partnership Shortlisted For National Awards

Community Rail Partnership covering 3 counties, Shropshire, Wrexham and Chester, has been shortlisted for four Community Railway Awards in multiple categories including Tourism and Leisure, Outstanding Volunteer Contribution, It’s Your Station and Community Creative Projects and Station Arts.

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 community rail as the wider railway industry celebrates 200 years since the birth of modern railways.

3 Counties Connected’s first shortlisted project focused on Tourism and Leisure along the circular rail routes from Shrewsbury to Crewe via Wrexham and Chester. Their Tourism Connect project, funded by Transport for Wales, brought together three regional Destination Management Organisations, Visit Shropshire, This Is Wrexham and Visit Chester and Cheshire, to promote sustainable tourism across three counties by encouraging visitors to use rail travel as the main mode of transport for exploring local attractions.

This project saw the development of a new bilingual map, designed by Lemondrop Creative, featuring more than sixty attractions and experiences accessible from railway stations along the route. Branded as “3 Counties By Rail”, the project also received recognition from Cheshire Life having featured a 7 page article in their October’s edition of the magazine.

The second project to be shortlisted focused on their Wrexham Station Art Project which was funded by Transport for Wales. Led by local artist, Sophia Leadill, the partnership worked with homeless charities, The Wallich and Housing Justice, to transform the waiting room at Wrexham General railway station into an inspiring space that reflects the community’s identity, known as “Cynefin” or “Sense of Place”, while addressing the emotional impact of rail-related suicides on the community. Through extensive community engagement, including workshops with local groups, the artwork captures Wrexham’s history, culture, and residents’ personal memories.

Further nominations include Outstanding Volunteer Contribution which sees Gina Haigh of Nantwich railway station adopter group being shortlisted, and It’s Your Station which sees the Friends of Chirk Station being shortlisted.

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.

Josie Rayworth, Community Rail Officer for 3 Counties Community Rail Partnership, said: “I am thrilled that our Community Rail Partnership has been shortlisted for four Community Rail Awards. This recognition celebrates the hard work, creativity, and passion behind our projects and gives our communities and partners the chance to be honoured. It's an absolute privilege to work with such dedicated people who have made a real impact in our communities.”

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 3 Counties Connected 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.”

Melanie Lawton, Community Rail Strategic Lead at Transport for Wales, said: "Congratulations, to be shortlisted for these prestigious national awards is testament to the Community Rail Partnership and their engagement with communities.”

Lorna Crawshaw, Head of Community Programmes & Partnerships at the Community Rail Partnership’s host organisation Groundwork North Wales, said: “We are absolutely thrilled for the CRP to be nominated for four awards. This incredible recognition highlights the breadth and depth of the CRP’s work and the passion of everyone involved.”