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Help shape the future of the Liverpool to Manchester Community Rail Partnership

The Liverpool to Manchester Community Rail Partnership plays an important role in bringing together organisations, volunteers and communities to help maximise the social, environmental and economic benefits of the Liverpool to Manchester railway. As the Partnership continues to grow alongside Rocket All Aboard and preparations for the 2030 bicentenary, there is an opportunity to help shape its future.

Each year, the Partnership’s Executive Committee Officer positions are elected at the Annual General Meeting,  for which nominations are now open for the roles of:

Whether your background is in community development, education, heritage, the voluntary sector, local government, business or simply making things happen in your community, these roles offer an opportunity to make a real difference.

Importantly, previous railway experience is not essential. The Partnership is looking for people who are collaborative, committed and passionate about bringing communities together.

Bringing Communities and Railways Together

The Liverpool to Manchester Community Rail Partnership works across both the historic Chat Moss Line and the Cheshire Lines Committee Line, bringing together local authorities, train operators, community organisations, volunteers, station groups and local residents.

Its purpose is simple: to strengthen the relationship between the railway and the communities along the route.

From encouraging sustainable travel and improving accessibility to celebrating local heritage, supporting station adoption groups and developing community projects, the Partnership helps ensure the railway continues to bring lasting benefits to the places it connects.

Read more about Community Rail and the Liverpool to Manchester Community Rail Partnership

Why These Roles Matter

The Executive Committee provides the leadership that enables the Partnership to thrive.

The Chair plays a particularly important role, providing strategic leadership, building partnerships, chairing meetings and acting as an ambassador for the Partnership across the Liverpool to Manchester corridor. Working alongside the Community Development Officer and Executive Committee, the Chair helps shape priorities, supports delivery of the Community Rail Activity Plan and encourages collaboration between partners.

Supporting the Chair is the Vice Chair, who helps guide the Partnership’s work, contributes to strategic planning, deputises when required and helps build relationships across the wide range of organisations involved.

The Secretary helps ensure the Partnership is well organised and effectively governed, supporting meetings, maintaining accurate records and helping keep decisions and actions on track.

The Treasurer works closely with Manchester Histories, the Partnership’s Accountable Body, to provide oversight of the Partnership’s finances and support good financial governance. The role focuses on governance and assurance rather than day-to-day bookkeeping.

Together, these volunteers help provide the leadership that enables projects and partnerships to flourish across the Liverpool to Manchester railway corridor.

Supported by Manchester Histories

The Liverpool to Manchester Community Rail Partnership is supported by Manchester Histories, which acts as the Partnership’s Accountable Body. Manchester Histories provides financial management, governance, administration and strategic support, enabling the Executive Committee to focus on leadership, partnership working and community benefit.

Manchester Histories is also the lead organisation in a wide partnership for Rocket All Aboard, the cross-regional programme celebrating the bicentenary of the Rainhill Trials in 2029 and the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 2030. This close relationship means the Community Rail Partnership and Rocket All Aboard are working together to celebrate the railway’s remarkable heritage while creating lasting social, environmental and economic benefits for communities today.

Could This Be You?

The Community Rail Partnership welcomes nominations from from people who:

  • care about their local communities
  • enjoy working collaboratively with others
  • can listen, build relationships and encourage new ideas
  • are interested in good governance and positive community action
  • want to help shape the future of the Liverpool to Manchester railway corridor.

If you’ve been involved with a community group, charity, local authority, heritage organisation, business, school, voluntary organisation or simply want to contribute your skills and experience, we’d love to hear from you.

How to Apply

Full role descriptions, nomination forms and information on how to apply for each position can also be found here:

The Annual General Meeting will be held on the 9 September 2026 at Eccles Community Hall, Church Street, Eccles, Manchester, M30 0LH and nominations should be submitted by 2 September 2026.

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