Penistone Line Partnership, established in 1993 is a voluntary organisation, and a member of the Community Rail Network, supported by the DFT (Department for Transport). Partnerships work to improve their community lines, stations, and services.

Penistone Line Partnership works with Train Operating Companies (Northern, East Midlands Railway, Cross Country, and Trans Pennine Express), Network Rail, local councils, and stakeholders.

We work in partnership with Huddersfield, Penistone, Sheffield Rail User Association (HPSRUA).

Our aim is to:

• Engage with local communities to improve station access and environment
• Increase passenger numbers and encourage a modal shift to sustainable travel, including rail
• Provide volunteering opportunities
• Help to support economic & social development
• Promote diversity and inclusion
• Educate young people about rail safety, sustainability, and rail careers

Community Rail is a grassroots movement that started in the late 1990s to address the decline of branch lines. The movement has grown significantly and is now overseen by the Community Rail Network (CRN) which manages over 70 Community Rail Partnerships and over 1,000 station adoption groups offering support and training, as well as organising the annual Community Rail Awards. The Community Rail Network also administers the Community Rail Development Fund and ensures accreditation of partnerships is completed on behalf of the Department for Transport.

The Community Rail Development Strategy, published by the Department for Transport in 2018, is intended to help rural and local railways onto a more sustainable financial footing. Railways as a whole, consume a large amount of public funding, and it is essential to demonstrate value for money. We aim to significantly increase the number of passengers using the line while decreasing reliance on government subsidies. The role of Community Rail has never been more important. Giving passengers and other stakeholders a platform to express their needs to the rail industry.

Around 3,200 volunteers contribute about 250,000 hours of work each year to the national community rail network, bringing in approximately £3.4 million extra value to the rail industry.

Community Rail Network also manages and promotes the Scenic Rail Britain website which highlights all of Britain’s stunning community railways.