Chiltern Railways announces new charity partnership with The Marylebone Project
Rail operator Chiltern Railways has announced a new partnership with The Marylebone Project, a London-based charity dedicated to supporting homeless and vulnerable women. As part of this new partnership, customers will now have the opportunity to donate their Delay Repay compensation to the charity, helping to support vulnerable people in local communities.
The partnership, which will last from April 2025 to March 2027, builds on Chiltern’s collaboration in delivering the Marylebone on Display project in 2024. This project supported attendees of The Marylebone Project to engage in art therapy sessions to support their emotional wellbeing. The artwork was displayed at London Marylebone Station from December 2024 to raise awareness of the challenges homeless women face in the local area.
In addition to customer Delay Repay contributions which involve customers donating refunds directly to the charity, Chiltern Railways will also contribute the proceeds from auctioning lost property that is not claimed by customers. Chiltern intends to support the charity's wider activity throughout the next two years, including using meeting rooms at Space in Marylebone, and using the in-house catering service, Munch in Marylebone, which provides employment opportunities for women accessing The Marylebone Project.
Zach Bailey, Regional Growth Manager at Chiltern Railways, said:
“We’re delighted to be formalising our partnership with The Marylebone Project and play a part in supporting their vital work in helping vulnerable women across North West London. Customers will have the option to donate their Delay Repay refunds directly to the charity, providing tens of thousands of pounds of funding to an important local cause.”
Miriam Kennedy, Centre Manager at The Marylebone Project, said:
“We are thrilled to have been chosen as Chiltern Railways’ Charity Partner! This partnership will raise vital awareness and support for women facing homelessness and crisis, bringing our work into the everyday journeys of travellers across the network.
Demand for our services has never been greater, and at a time when charities are facing significant challenges, we are incredibly grateful for this opportunity. Thank you to Chiltern Railways, its staff, and every traveller for being part of our journey, standing with women and supporting the work of The Marylebone Project.”
Chiltern Railways would also like to thank the National Literacy Trust, the rail operator's 2024-25 charity partner. Chiltern will continue to work closely with the National Literacy Trust on the “Dream Big for STEM” scheme, a programme designed to inspire and empower children to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM).
To learn more about The Marylebone Project, visit here.
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Notes to editors
- Chiltern Railways is part of the Arriva group, one of the leading providers of passenger transport in Europe, employing around 36,200 people and delivering around 1.5 billion passenger journeys across 11 European countries.
- Chiltern operates commuter/regional rail passenger services from its Central London terminus at London Marylebone along the M40 corridor to destinations in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, as well as long-distance services to the West Midlands along two routes. Services on the Chiltern Main Line run from London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford, with some peak-hour services to Stourbridge Junction.
- Chiltern also runs trains on the London to Aylesbury Line to Aylesbury (with some trains terminating at Aylesbury Vale Parkway instead), on the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury and Oxford to Bicester branch lines.