New Grant Scheme Supports Sports and Sustainable Travel Along Heart of Wales Line

Community organisations located along the Heart of Wales railway line are being invited to apply for funding through a new initiative designed to encourage participation in sport while promoting environmentally friendly travel.

Transport for Wales (TfW), working through the Heart of Wales Line Community Rail Partnership (CRP), has launched the ‘Train 2 Play’ grant programme, offering awards of up to £400 to local groups, sports clubs and community organisations.

The scheme aims to help organisations deliver activities that encourage people to become more active, while also highlighting the role rail travel can play in accessing community events and sporting opportunities.

Funding applications are open to groups operating within the Heart of Wales Line corridor, with projects required to take place within two miles of a station on the route. Eligible activities must be delivered between 1 July and 31 October 2026, and applications must be submitted before the deadline next Monday at 1pm.

The initiative is intended to support a wide range of activities, from events designed to attract new participants into sport to projects that create more inclusive and accessible opportunities for local communities to get involved in physical activity.

Successful applicants can use the funding to cover a variety of event-related costs, including venue hire, coaching expenses, equipment purchases, marketing, advertising and promotional activities.

As part of the programme, funded activities will be promoted under the ‘Train 2 Play’ banner, helping to raise awareness of rail travel as a convenient and sustainable way to reach local events. Organisers will also be encouraged to demonstrate how participants can use the railway to access activities, reinforcing the connection between active lifestyles and greener transport choices.

The launch coincides with Community Rail Week, a national campaign that showcases the role community rail partnerships and station groups play in supporting local communities, improving inclusion and encouraging sustainable travel.

By linking sporting participation with public transport, the scheme aims to strengthen community engagement while highlighting the benefits of travelling by train. Organisers hope the programme will help more people discover opportunities close to home while reducing reliance on private vehicles.

The Heart of Wales Line Community Rail Partnership believes the railway is uniquely positioned to connect communities across rural Wales and support access to a broader range of recreational opportunities.

Owen Griffkin, Community Rail Development Officer for the partnership, said the organisation was pleased to introduce the grant programme and support groups that are encouraging healthier lifestyles and sustainable travel habits.

He noted that the Heart of Wales Line serves a wide range of communities and that the initiative offers an opportunity to encourage greater use of the railway while helping people participate in local events, discover new activities and strengthen community connections through sport.

The ‘Train 2 Play’ programme follows a growing trend across the rail industry, with operators increasingly using community funding initiatives to support local projects. Similar schemes are currently being delivered elsewhere in the UK, including Govia Thameslink Railway’s ‘Your Station, Your Community’ programme and Greater Anglia’s Community Garden Week.

Through initiatives such as these, rail organisations are seeking to demonstrate how local railways can contribute to community wellbeing, social inclusion and environmental sustainability beyond simply providing transport services.