19 Dec 2025
South West Wales Connected, the region’s Community Rail Partnership (CRP), is delighted to announce that Dawn Lyle has been re-elected as Chair following the Partnership’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The AGM, held at Tramshed Tech in Swansea, was well-attended with representatives from community groups, transport organisations and regional stakeholders, reflecting the CRP’s growing collaboration and impact across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.
This year marked a major milestone for South West Wales Connected CRP, as the Partnership celebrates its fifth year in operation. Since its establishment in 2020, with 4TheRegion serving as its host organisation, the CRP has strengthened community connections, championed sustainable travel and delivered a wide range of impactful projects along the region’s rail network.
Dawn will continue to champion community engagement, sustainable travel and local placemaking across South West Wales.
Dawn Lyle, Chair of South West Wales Connected CRP said: "I'm so pleased to be re-elected as Chair of South West Wales Connected. It’s a role I care deeply about because it’s all about people working together to make our stations and local places better connected, safer and more welcoming.
“I’m constantly inspired by the passion and ideas in our communities, and I love that our work also helps highlight the many beautiful and interesting places to visit across our region by rail.”
Eve Sherratt, Community Rail Officer for South West Wales Connected CRP said: “I’m delighted that Dawn has been re-elected as Chair. Her commitment to community connections shines through everything she does.
“She’s a real champion for our region, and I’m excited to continue working alongside her to strengthen our partnerships and make a positive difference through our community rail.”
Melanie Lawton, Community Rail Strategic Lead at Transport for Wales said: "Congratulations Dawn on your re-election, the CRP is consistently delivering excellent projects connecting communities to their railways and delivering social impact across the South West Wales region."
Notes to editors
- About the role:
The role of Chair involves providing leadership to the Partnership, chairing meetings, acting as an ambassador for South West Wales Connected CRP, and supporting the staff team and host organisation, 4TheRegion, in delivering the activity plan. It also carries the important responsibility of upholding the values of Community Rail by promoting the voices of local communities, encouraging sustainable and accessible travel, supporting diversity and inclusion and fostering social and economic development across the region.
- Community rail is a grassroots movement spanning Britain that is made up of community rail partnerships, which work along whole railway lines or in specific regions, and volunteer station ‘friends’ or ‘adoption’ groups to connect communities with their railways.
There is more than 75 community rail partnerships and 1,300 station friends volunteer groups across Britain.
- For more information about South West Wales Connected CRP and its ongoing community projects, visit www.southwestwales.co
- 4theRegion is the host organisation for the CRP. 4theRegion is a not-for-profit company, founded in Swansea in January 2018. They are a membership alliance working for social, environmental and economic change in Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Neath Port Talbot.
