Rail 74 Community Rail Partnership held its Annual General Meeting on 26 June 2026 at St Mary’s for All in Hamilton, bringing together trustees and members to reflect on another busy and successful year of activity along the Rail 74 line.
The meeting provided an opportunity to review the partnership’s achievements, consider its financial and governance position, and look ahead to the projects and priorities that will shape the coming year.
Trustee appointments
The following trustees were elected and confirmed:
- Diane Whateley – Chair
- Aiden Watt – Vice Chair
- Nigel Wunsch – Treasurer
- Suzie McCheyne – Secretary
- Alex Stewart – Trustee
- Gavin Lindsay – Trustee
The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting were also approved.
A year of positive impact
Trustees received an update on Rail 74’s projects and considered the partnership’s Annual Impact Report, which demonstrated the difference community rail activity is making for local people, schools and communities.
Highlights from 2024–2025 included:
- More than £35,000 in funding and project value brought into communities along the line.
- Over 240 people engaged through Travelling Classrooms – Making Tracks to Inclusion and Railway 200 activity.
- More than 10 supported rail journeys delivered.
- Fourteen schools involved in Rail 74 projects.
- More than 200 Rail 74 Travel Passports distributed to encourage children and families to explore their local railway.
- Fifty Stop-by-Stop Line Guides created, supported by an accessible digital guide covering eight stations.
- More than 120 people engaged through Nature at Newton.
- Continued partnership working with ScotRail, CrossCountry and Avanti West Coast.
Travelling Classrooms remained one of Rail 74’s flagship programmes, using the train itself as a learning environment to help children, families and additional support needs learners build confidence, improve their understanding of rail travel and enjoy positive first experiences of using the railway.
The partnership also continued to develop projects including Nature at Newton, Hope in Hamilton, Tracks to Prosperity, rail-safety education, inclusive travel resources and local station improvements.
Looking ahead
During the meeting, trustees discussed plans to build on the success of Travelling Classrooms and other inclusion projects, continue promoting the Rail 74 Travel Passport and digital line guide, expand environmental activity at Newton, and support safer and more inclusive rail journeys.
Rail 74 will also continue strengthening relationships with schools, volunteers, community organisations, funders and rail-industry partners.
The partnership thanked everyone who contributed during the year, including its trustees, volunteers, schools, community groups, funders and rail partners.
Together, we make our line better.