Railway Mission

02/06/2026

Meet us at Rail LIVE: 17-18 June 2026.

We're joining partners and friends from across the rail industry at the UK’s largest outdoor rail exhibition this month.

Come and visit us on Stand M60a at Porterbrook’s Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre. We're delighted to be stand sharing with the British Transport Police again this year.

Meet some of the Railway Mission team, hear more about our work supporting the rail community, explore new opportunities, or simply reconnect.

We’d love to see you there.

28/05/2026

Networking, reminiscing and building connections

Three of our Railway Mission Chaplains - Mags Farrow, Alan Thorpe and Andrew Hall - recently met up at Cardiff Central station.

Providing support to the British Transport Police is an important part of the work of our chaplains and they chatted to two members of BTP staff, Lauren and Aaron, who were informing the public about the new text service 61016 for reporting non-emergency incidents. The discreet number can be used to alert the BTP to non-emergency crimes, anti-social behaviour or suspicious incidents on trains and at stations.

Officially retired, Alan is our longest serving Railway Mission chaplain and he knew Lauren back from when she started in her career. There was a lot of reminiscing!

A large part of our work as Railway Mission chaplains is raising our profile and building connections, as well as supporting our colleagues in the BTP and the emergency services.

It is key that everyone knows who we are and what we do - friendly faces that are here to provide support when people need us, whenever that might be.

27/05/2026

Fancy a brew?

The mental health support offered by our Railway Mission chaplains often starts over a simple brew. We drink a lot of cups of tea and coffee!

Is there something causing you stress and anxiety? Sitting down and talking over a brew can make a world of difference.

As Mental Health Awareness Month draws to an end, we are here whenever you need a listening ear - any month of the year.

Talking can often help. Shall we start with a cup of tea?

26/05/2026

Meet Our Chaplains - Mags Farrow

Mags is our Railway Mission Chaplain for South Wales and the Marches. Her ‘patch’ covers from Hereford up to Newport and across to Pembrokeshire, including the Heart of Wales line.

Mags joined the chaplaincy team in January following a career in teaching, ministry and as a prison chaplain. She is married with three children and two dogs.

"My role is to be here to listen and to listen well – truly hearing what the person is saying. I look at every person as a whole and what their unique individual needs are at this point in time. I then work from there to support them on their journey."

Please read Mags's profile to learn more about her and how she can support you:

https://railwaymission.org/about-us/chaplain-profiles/mags-farrow

24/05/2026

Here is the Railway Mission prayer email and thought for the week.

You may love it, hate it, or be indifferent, but HS2 is something that eventually will be built, maybe not to the original plan, but it will be built.

Jesus once asked a very practical question: who begins to build a tower without first sitting down to count the cost? It is a simple image, but a powerful one. In Jesus’ day, a half-built tower would have been visible to everyone. It would stand in the landscape as a reminder of ambition without p...

22/05/2026

Nine years on, and Manchester still remembers.

Today we remember the 22 lives taken far too soon; each one loved, each one missed beyond words. We remember the families who wake up every day carrying a loss that time cannot soften, learning to live in a world forever changed.

We remember the survivors, whose strength is seen not just in that night, but in every day since; living with scars, both visible and unseen.

This isn’t just a date in history. It’s birthdays not celebrated, voices not heard, futures that should have been. It’s also courage, resilience, and a city that continues to stand together in the face of unimaginable pain.

Manchester doesn’t forget.

We hold them in our hearts; always.

21/05/2026

Mental Health Resilience Training - Open Course in London

We are delighted to announce the second of two open half-day mental health resilience training courses run by Railway Mission's sister organisation, Paideia Coaching.

Open courses are perfect for individuals or small numbers of staff who require training without the need for a full group booking.

Developed after a direct request from the railway industry and endorsed by the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators, the training is specifically designed to strengthen mental health resilience and give people the tools to recognise when they or others are struggling and to identify support and solutions to address difficulties.

The course is suitable for everyone working in the railways and covers:

- How you can recognise the signs of burnout and stress in yourself and others.
- Understanding workplace and home-related stressors and how they impact wellbeing.
- Building confidence to have open, supportive conversations about mental health.
- Equipping you with tools and strategies to look after you own wellbeing and to support colleagues.

“Together, we can create a more resilient, supportive railway industry – where every staff member feels equipped to care for their own wellbeing and to look out for others.”

The course has received excellent feedback from participants - “Great session, very positive and made me reflect.”

For more information please visit the Paideia Coaching website or email [email protected].

We can also deliver this course to a group of between 15 and 18 participants at your venue.

20/05/2026

Challenging taboos around mental health

According to a recent report by the RSSB, stress in the railway workforce is often a taboo subject.

There is a culture of silence with many working in the industry fearing repurcussions if they admit to mental health challenges. Managers can be reluctant to address the issue, exacerbated by a lack of resources to help respond to concerns.*

Our new half day training course has been developed specifically in response to requests from the railway industry to help close this gap. You'll learn practical tools, suitable for everyone working in the rail sector, to support your own mental health and that of your teams. You will receive a CIRO | Chartered Institution of Railway Operators endorsed certificate of completion.

The course covers:

- How you can recognise the signs of burnout and stress in yourself and others.

- Understanding workplace and home-related stressors and how they impact wellbeing.

- Building confidence to have open, supportive conversations about mental health.

- Equipping you with tools and strategies to look after you own wellbeing and to support colleagues.

If you are interested in exploring more about how the training could help your staff, please contact Andy Mitchell, our training lead at Paideia Coaching https://paideiacoaching.co.uk/

*Managing work related stress in the rail sector, RSSB, 2026

20/05/2026

Mental Health Resilience Training - Open Course in Leeds

The first of two open half-day mental health resilience training course run by Railway Mission's sister organisation, Paideia Coaching.

Open courses are perfect for individuals or small numbers of staff who require training without the need for a full group booking.

Developed after a direct request from the railway industry and endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Railway Operators, the training is specifically designed to strengthen mental health resilience and give people the tools to recognise when they or others are struggling and to identify support and solutions to address difficulties.

The course is suitable for everyone working in the railways and covers:

- How you can recognise the signs of burnout and stress in yourself and others.
- Understanding workplace and home-related stressors and how they impact wellbeing.
- Building confidence to have open, supportive conversations about mental health.
- Equipping you with tools and strategies to look after you own wellbeing and to support colleagues.

“Together, we can create a more resilient, supportive railway industry – where every staff member feels equipped to care for their own wellbeing and to look out for others.”

⭐️The course has received excellent feedback from participants - “Great session, very positive and made me reflect.”

For more information please visit the Paideia Coaching website.

We can also deliver this course to a group of between 15 and 18 participants at your venue.

19/05/2026

Standing strong for 145 years

The Railway Mission is celebrating our 145th anniversary this year!

The railways have changed over that time but we've remained constant - always here to provide strength and support to our railway family.

Our longevity means we understand the unique challenges those working in the railways face, including the many stresses of the modern railway.

Our firm foundations mean we are strong and ready to provide support whatever challenges life throws at you - whether work or home related.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need help - we can provide guidance to help you find a way through difficult times.

www.railwaymission.org