Rail 74 Community Rail Partnership was proud to be named as a finalist at the Scottish Transport Awards 2026 in the Excellence in Transport Accessibility category for our Inclusivity Matters programme.
Although we did not take home the award on the night, being shortlisted alongside leading transport projects from across Scotland was a significant achievement for our small community-led partnership. It was a wonderful evening of celebration, recognition and connection, and a great time was had by all who attended.
The awards took place on Thursday 11 June 2026 at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel, bringing together organisations from across Scotland’s transport sector to recognise innovation, partnership working and impact. For Rail 74 CRP, the evening was a chance to reflect on how far the partnership has come and to celebrate the communities, schools, families, volunteers and partners who have shaped our work.
About the Project
Inclusivity Matters was developed to make rail travel more accessible, welcoming and confidence-building for people who may face additional barriers to using public transport. This includes autistic people, disabled people, children and young people, families, anxious travellers and those who have limited experience of independent rail travel.
The programme has included supported rail journeys, school engagement, sensory resources, travel confidence activities, rail safety learning, station familiarisation and accessible travel information. A key part of the work has been helping people understand what to expect when travelling by train, reducing uncertainty and building confidence one journey at a time.
Through projects such as Travelling Classrooms, sensory train bags, the Stop by Stop accessible rail guide and the Rail 74 Passport of Travel, the programme has supported people to see rail travel as something that is for them.
Why the Shortlisting Mattered
The Excellence in Transport Accessibility category recognises projects that improve access to travel and the travel experience for disabled people, with a focus on innovation, co-design, partnership working and reaching communities that can often face additional barriers.
For Rail 74 CRP, being shortlisted was recognition not only of one project, but of a wider approach. Inclusivity Matters has always been about listening to lived experience, working in partnership and creating practical resources that make a real difference.
Our work has shown that accessibility is not just about infrastructure. It is also about confidence, communication, information, safety, sensory experience, dignity and belonging.
For some participants, the project helped them take a train journey for the first time. For others, it helped reduce anxiety, support school transitions, encourage family travel or open up conversations about independent travel and future opportunities.
Impact So Far
Inclusivity Matters has reached hundreds of people across the Rail 74 corridor and beyond. Previous project activity has engaged more than 500 people, with over 240 direct participants taking part in supported activities and rail confidence work.
The project has worked with schools, community groups, families and partner organisations, supporting children and adults to feel more confident using rail. Feedback has shown strong outcomes, including improved confidence, better understanding of rail travel and increased willingness to use the train.
A significant proportion of participants came from communities experiencing disadvantage, and many had not previously travelled independently by rail. This makes the impact especially meaningful. The project has not simply promoted rail travel; it has helped remove barriers that can stop people from accessing education, work, leisure, family connections and community life.
Partnership Working
The success of Inclusivity Matters has been built on partnership. Rail 74 CRP has worked with a wide range of organisations including rail industry partners, schools, community organisations, accessibility specialists and local groups.
We are especially grateful to everyone who has supported, shaped and championed the programme, including our rail partners, volunteers, trustees, schools, families and community participants. Their willingness to share experience, test ideas, support journeys and promote inclusion has made the project stronger.
Community rail works best when it brings people together, and this project is a strong example of what can happen when local knowledge, lived experience and rail expertise come together around a shared purpose.
A Night to Celebrate
The Scottish Transport Awards evening was a proud moment for Rail 74 CRP. While we were naturally disappointed not to win, we were delighted to be finalists and to see our work recognised at a national level.
The evening gave us the chance to celebrate the dedication of everyone involved in Inclusivity Matters and to connect with others working to improve transport across Scotland. It was also a reminder that small community-led projects can have a big impact.
Being shortlisted has strengthened our commitment to continue developing inclusive, accessible and community-focused rail projects.
What Comes Next
Rail 74 CRP will continue to build on the success of Inclusivity Matters by supporting rail confidence, inclusive travel, safer journeys, sensory resources and opportunities for young people to learn more about the railway.
Our aim remains simple: to make local rail travel easier, safer and more welcoming for everyone.
We may not have won the award, but the recognition belongs to every participant who took a brave first journey, every family who shared their experience, every school that got involved, every volunteer who gave their time and every partner who believed in the work.
For Rail 74 CRP, being a Scottish Transport Awards finalist is something to be very proud of — and a strong foundation for the next stage of our journey.
Rail 74 Community Rail Partnership: connecting communities, improving journeys and making rail more accessible for all.
