Better for our places

Why it matters to us

With over 180 stations spread throughout London and the South, we are located in neighbourhoods with a huge variety of opportunities for us to grasp and amplify.

We want to positively impact the communities we serve. Stations aren’t just places for trains. They can be local hubs for community use, with multi-activity spaces and underused areas creatively given a new lease of life.

Our plans

Support community partnerships

We will support and enhance at least 12 high quality community rail partnerships plus at least 50 station adoption schemes.

Improve our stations

By 2025 we will set up 20 or more improvement schemes in collaboration with industry partners to improve the environmental impact and social value of our stations.

Make space available

By 2025 we will repurpose at least 11 station spaces so they’re available for local community groups or charities to use.

Why it matters to us

Railways connect people. Not just geographically but by a sense of community. That connection supports and sustains growth, of us and our environment.

The vibrancy and wellbeing of local communities really counts. It drives us to improve day-to-day while strengthening the community bonds in our region. Enriching the communities we serve through commercial and charitable support is a positive way for us to make impact. We will do this by seeking to embrace and understand local needs so we can support and celebrate the uniqueness of our communities.

Our plans

Understand our communities needs

Each year we will complete a social value report to identify the benefits added through our work and where we can do better.

Maintain charity partnerships

We will support at least one charity partnership in each regional area and give these approved charity groups free access to our stations to promote their cause.

Boost local business use

We will make sure that our procurement processes allow small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to tender a quote for applicable work under £50,000.

Help safeguard people at risk

We will work collaboratively on projects to support people on our network in vulnerable situations including delivering actions of the Rough Sleeping on Rail Charter.

Why it matters to us

Travelling by train opens the door to many things – access to work, education, family, friends, social activities, and more.

It’s good too for the economy and environment, so we want more people to feel welcomed and encouraged to travel with us.

Accessible stations are easier for everyone: people with physical and hidden disabilities, people with children, heavy luggage or shopping and some older people. With the population undergoing a huge age shift, people are living longer but often with health conditions or limited mobility.

We want to be prepared: inclusive and accessible to all our current and future customers.

Our plans

Empower employees with disabilities

By 2023, we will achieve Level 3 in the Disability Confident Leader Programme to help us change attitudes for the better.

Improve station passenger access

By 2023, we will equip at least 70% of our stations to offer step-free access.

Listen and learn

We will strengthen our engagement with people with disabilities and other groups to improve what we offer and raise the ‘disability confidence’ level of our employees.

Cater for non-visible disabilities

We will trial the use of calm spaces at three or more of our stations to support and increase the confidence of customers with non-visible disabilities.