Chiltern Railways welcomes four new station adoption groups during Community Rail Week
Chiltern Railways is marking Community Rail Week 2026, which is organised by Community Rail Network, by celebrating the launch of four new station adoption groups, bringing community volunteers into the heart of the railway for the first time at some route stations.
New adoption groups have been established at Gerrards Cross, Haddenham & Thame Parkway, Oxford Parkway and Saunderton, joining a growing family of volunteer-led groups across the Chiltern Railways network who give their time year-round to improve the station environment for customers and local communities.
Station adoption groups play a vital role in maintaining welcoming, vibrant stations, including activities such as planting and tending gardens, organising community events and engagement activities, as well as acting as local ambassadors for the railway.
At Oxford Parkway, the new adoption group is already making an impact. Students from the City of Oxford College are transforming the station's green space into a garden with fruit trees and benches, in partnership with Blenheim Palace. The project was funded through Chiltern Railways' Community Investment Fund, and provides learners with horticultural, landscaping and environmental design experience, which helps build employability skills.
Chiltern Railways will also soon be announcing the next round of projects funded through the Chiltern Railways Community Investment Fund for 2026/27. Projects in development include new murals and artwork installations at stations across the route, outreach with local youth groups, and a range of further community initiatives.
Harry Burr, community rail lead at Chiltern Railways, said:
"Community Rail Week is the perfect moment to recognise the dedication of the volunteers who bring our stations to life. Welcoming four new adoption groups this year is a great milestone - these volunteers will make a big difference to the experience of customers travelling on our network, and those in wider community. We are also excited about what's coming next through the Community Investment Fund, delivering projects that will transform station spaces and areas immediately around them."
Chris Birks, director of policy and communications at Community Rail Network, said:
“It’s fantastic to see Chiltern Railways continuing to grow community rail across its network. Alongside the creativity and enthusiasm volunteers bring, this work also supports inclusion, accessibility and confidence in using rail for a wide range of people. These groups will make a positive impact both for passengers and for their wider communities.”
Contact Information
David Heathfield
Head of Corporate Affairs
Chiltern Railway
020 3856 2280
07920 267171
Notes to editors
- Chiltern Railways is part of the Arriva group, one of the leading providers of passenger transport in Europe, employing around 35,670 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), between Princes Risborough and Aylesbury and between Oxford and Bicester.