Tracks to Prosperity: Financial Wellbeing along the Rail 74 line with Thistle Credit Union
Delivered: January to March 2026Partner: Thistle Credit UnionFunder: Network Rail Community Rail Fund, administered by Foundation ScotlandProject area: Communities along the Rail 74 line, from Rutherglen to Motherwell Between January and March 2026, Rail 74 Community Rail Partnership worked with Thistle Credit Union to make financial wellbeing support easier to access for people living along our line. Tracks to Prosperity shared practical information about budgeting, saving, digital banking and affordable borrowing. It also helped people understand how a credit union works and what support might be available when…
Thank You to Our Funders and Supporters
Rail 74 Community Rail Partnership would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the organisations whose funding, practical support and belief in our work allow us to make a real difference across the communities along our railway line. We are especially grateful to ScotRail, Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Siemens and CAF Rail, alongside our rail-industry, community and voluntary-sector partners. Their support has helped us to: Funding is about much more than paying for materials or activities. It gives us the opportunity to listen to communities, test new…
Creating a More Welcoming Station Gateway at Rutherglen
A major art and access project is bringing Rutherglen’s history, people and identity into the station during the town’s 900th anniversary year. Why the project matters Rutherglen Station is an important gateway used by residents, commuters and visitors, but parts of the entrance and walkway feel tired and do not yet reflect the character of the town. Rutherglen’s 900th anniversary created a timely opportunity to improve the passenger experience while leaving a lasting community legacy. What is being created Rail 74 is working with artist Erin Bradley Scott,…
Small Bag, Big Difference
How Rail 74 is helping families feel confident about train travel For many families, catching a train is an ordinary part of everyday life. For some autistic, neurodivergent and sensory-sensitive children, however, a train journey can involve noise, crowds, waiting, unexpected changes and unfamiliar surroundings. What might seem like a simple journey can quickly become overwhelming. For some families, the result is that train travel is avoided altogether. Rail 74 Community Rail Partnership wanted to see whether something simple could help. That idea became our Sensory Travel Bag…
Minutes of Meeting Aug 2026
Attendance Present as recorded: Suzie McCheyne, Nigel Wunsch, Fraser Hamilton, Ros Houldsworth, Aiden Watt, Diane Whateley, Diane and Kieran Wise, Charmian Harrison, John Miller, graham Whitehead, Alex Bray, Andy Crosbie, Rosalie Dunn and Rose Hewitt. Purpose of meeting Partners received updates on current Rail 74 activity, accessibility and neurodiversity work, station and community projects, funding, and developments from ScotRail, CrossCountry Avanti, the National Autistic Society and local partners. 1 Partnership and collaboration Suzie welcomed partners and chaired the meeting. Diane reported that discussions with SocialBite and Eugenie had…
Rail 74 Celebrates a Year of Community Impact at Annual General Meeting
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: The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting…
Building Rail Confidence for P7 Pupils on the Move to Secondary School
On 29 May, Rail 74 Community Rail Partnership supported a special transition trip for over 60 Primary 7 pupils and 10 adults from two local schools, travelling by train from Newton Station to Glasgow Central. The trip was designed to help pupils build confidence using the railway as they prepare for the move from primary to secondary school. For many young people, this transition can bring new journeys, new routines and greater independence. Rail 74 CRP wanted to make that experience feel safer, more familiar and more positive.…
Rail 74 CRP Celebrates Scottish Transport Awards Finalist Recognition
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…
Rail 74 Corridor
10 Years of Passenger Growth & Social Value (2015–2025) Communities Connected Through Rail For the last decade, Rail 74 Community Rail Partnership has worked alongside communities, rail partners, schools, volunteers, and local organisations to help make rail travel more accessible, inclusive, sustainable, and community-focused across the Rail 74 corridor. New official data published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for 2024–25 highlights the continued recovery and growth of local rail usage across our line, showing the importance of community rail in supporting people, places, and local…
🚆 Case Study: “My Train Bag” – Supporting Inclusive Rail Travel
At Rail 74 Community Rail Partnership, we believe train travel should feel welcoming, accessible, and comfortable for everyone. As part of our Tracks to Inclusion programme, we are proud to launch a new pilot project in partnership with the National Autistic Society South Lanarkshire — introducing our “My Train Bag” sensory travel packs for neurodivergent children and families. 💙 The Idea For many autistic children and young people, travelling by train can feel overwhelming. Busy stations, loud announcements, crowds, waiting times, and unfamiliar environments can all create anxiety…