COMMUNITIES in East Anglia are being reminded that applications to Greater Anglia’s 2026 Customer and Community Improvement Fund close on 12 April.

The train operator recently announced a £350,000 funding boost for communities on its network, designed to support local, community-focused rail improvements across its network.

From small scale-station enhancements and integrated transport projects to schemes that introduce new or disadvantaged groups to rail travel, a wide range of initiatives are eligible for funding. They include education projects, biodiversity initiatives, arts or heritage schemes, and new ways of promoting rail services within local communities. The key requirement is that projects deliver clear benefits for both the community and the railway.

A total of £350,000 will be allocated to projects across the Greater Anglia network. There is no set or preferred value for individual funding applications. However, the maximum value of any single application will be £50,000, with the aim of supporting a broad spread of schemes across the region.

Larger bids will be expected to demonstrate a proportionately greater level of benefit, and it is anticipated that most projects will be smaller in scale, typically costing between £500 and £20,000.

This scheme is aimed at supporting initiatives which deliver community benefits and enhance rail’s positive role in society. Ideas proposed can be put forward by local organisations or bodies, such as community rail partnerships, station adopters, local authorities or parish councils, community groups, charities, or other stakeholders along the routes served by the train operator.

Full details, including bid eligibility and criteria, are available on the Greater Anglia website and bids must be submitted online using the online form at www.greateranglia.co.uk/ccif by 23.59 on Sunday 12 April.

Projects must be completed by 31 March 2027, be focused only on the Greater Anglia network area and have a lasting positive impact for communities and the railway in the region.

Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs, for Greater Anglia, said:

“We are always looking to enhance the role of the railway in support of the communities it serves. 

“We look forward to the next round of this really positive scheme resulting in more locally focused enhancements in line with community needs, with ideas coming from both community rail partnerships and station adopters, but also other local organisations, such as local authorities, parish councils, charities, or other stakeholders.”

Greater Anglia is especially interested in projects which meet one or more of the following aims, which are to:

• benefit rail customers
• increase rail travel
• trial or promote rail with individuals or groups who are not currently rail users
• encourage carbon reduction and/or biodiversity
• promote inclusion and diversity
• make rail travel more accessible
• support integrated transport links
• improve stations or station facilities in ways that complement their role as gateways to the local communities
• connect communities, people, and places
• provide educational programmes that support careers in rail or increase awareness and experience of public transport and rail safety
• address local social needs
• enhance health and wellbeing
• support economic growth

The type of specific initiatives which might be supported include:

• Small scale schemes to provide new, upgraded, or restored station facilities
• Signage and wayfinding schemes
• Better information provision
• Educational, art, history, or heritage projects
• Biodiversity or carbon reduction programmes
• Better integrated transport facilities (or walking or cycling routes)
• Improving inclusion and diversity for those who work within or use the rail network
• Promoting rail amongst under-represented groups
• Research projects that might support future rail improvements
• Other proposals which build or strengthen links between communities and their railways

There could be other ideas or proposals, as long as they are consistent with the aims previously outlined and provide a clear benefit for the local community and/or rail customers.