2 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Messages from Sponsors luck toallthenominees. ACoRP’s Community RailAwards in2016andwishverybestof a difference issoimportant. We are verypleasedto sponsor ing theirworktoimprove localcommunitiesandmaking such tion madebydedicatedandcommitted volunteers.Recognis- At GrandCentralRail,weappreciate thefantasticcontribu - Grand CentralRailway generations. improve thesecrucialcommunityservicesforfuture important torecognise andreward success,whilstseekingto be supportingtheCommunityRailAwards. We believeitis As theUK’s busiestrailoperator, weare delightedtoonceagain Govia projects. future. We wishallnomineesthebestofsuccessintheir our products willtouchupon manyrailcommunitiesinthe operational inNewtonAycliffe, CountyDurham,wehopethat the country. ourtrainmanufacturingfacilitynow With Rail Awards, highlightingtheimportanceoflocalrailwaysacross Hitachi RailEurope isproud tosupportthe2016Community Hitachi RailEurope ACoRP COMMUNITYRAILAWARDS 2016 WINNERS ACoRP General Manager Neil Buxton worthy winners! We congratulateALLthisyear’s very sector. work ofvolunteersandstaff withinour also highlightingthededicationandhard huge complexityoftheseprojectswhilst innovation, partnershipandsometimes The detailscontainedhereoutlinethe panels ofexperts. 2015/2016 asjudgedbyourindependent projects andvolunteercontributionsin and thisbooklethighlightstheverybest that isgreat intheCommunityRailworld The CommunityRailAwards celebrateall Messages from Sponsors directly relevant totheneedsofrailway canbealtered for Britain hasshownhowoldstation buildingsthatare nolonger Enhanced StationBuildings’Award. Ourworkaround Great sorship oftheCommunityRail Awards through the ‘Most The RailwayHeritageTrust ispleasedtocontinue itsspon- Railway HeritageTrust be associatedwiththeseawards. ACoRP CommunityRailAwards. We are therefore delightedto best practiceandcelebratingsuccessisthrough theannual rail. We recognise thatoneofthemostpositivewayssharing Department forTransport isakeensupporterofcommunity As thecore funderoflocalandruralservicesinEngland,the Department forTransport Ceremony. We sayeveryoneisawinner! particular tocelebratethelistofachievementsatAwards experience onourgrowing communityrailnetworkandin volunteers whogiveuptheirtimetoenhancethecustomer opportunity toconveyourthanksandgratitudeallthose pleased tobesponsoringthe2016awards. Thisisan As alongstandingsupporterofCommunityRailweare very Abellio UK and AngelTrains isproud tosupportthem. vital elementofthesuccess the overallrailindustryinBritain communities indoingthis.Community RailPartnershipsare a rail andrecognises theimportanceoflocalpeopleand Angel Trains hasastrong commitmenttobuildingthefuture of Angel Trains are pleasedtosupportthe2016ACoRPAwards. Angel Trains may notberecognised. that celebratethevalueofindividualsinsocietywhootherwise operate. We are delightedtobeassociatedwiththeseawards UK andiscommittedtoservingthecommunitiesinwhichwe Merseyrail isamongthehighestperformingrailoperatorsin the Merseyrail optimised tomeetthem. needs andprovide cost-effective rolling stocksolutions fundamental toensuringthatweunderstandstakeholders’ working relationship with the ACoRPteam,whichis deliver. Eversholt RailGroup greatly valuesitsexcellent of lifethatCommunityRailschemesandinitiativescontinueto and thewider-ranging benefitstolocaleconomiesandquality applaud boththephenomenalgrowth inpassengerdemand the ACoRPCommunityRailAwards. We recognise and Eversholt RailGroup isdelighted onceagaintobeasponsorof Eversholt RailGroup community railworld. for thewinnerstoshare those goodideaswiththerest ofthe to highqualityentries,excitingandinnovativeprojects and with alittlewillbecomeevermore important.We lookforward ever tighteningfinancialpositionfacingmanyCRPsdoingalot has attractedsomevery exciting projects inthepastandwithan from thesmallgrantsfund lookedafterbyACoRP. Thisaward up withlowvaluehighimpactschemesoftensomehelp done withalittleandCRPsare generallyverygoodatcoming the SmallProjects Award. Itistruetosaythatalotcanoftenbe Community RailLancashire isonceagaindelightedtosponsor Community RailLancashire ever more importantasmore peoplechoosetotravel byrail. country tofurtherimprove thelocalrailway, whichisbecoming Rail Awards highlightstheexcellentworkcarriedout across the Partnerships (ACoRP)andtheirannualawards. TheCommunity We are delightedtosupporttheAssociationofCommunity Rail TransPennine Express railway toanewgeneration. work, ideasandencouragementthattogetherwillopenupthe supporting theCommunityRailAwards, recognising thehard forward thecommunityrailmovement.We are delightedtobe wealth ofinspired storiesaboutthemenandwomentaking success phenomenoninitsownright. ACoRPprovides a reforms shouldfurtherexpandtherole ofcommunity rail,a people inrailways.Thegrowth oftherailindustryandcurrent Rail Mediaisbackingdynamicplanstoinvolvemore young Rail Media stations ontheNetwork. groups thathavefoundnewusesfordisusedandunderutilised sponsor thisaward torecognise theworkdoneby various business, entertainmentorcommunityuse.We are delighted to community rail’s contributiontogrowing Britain’s railways. delighted tohelpcelebratetheirachievementsandrecognise communities theyservecloserandtogrow together. We are CRPs intheirareas, helping thembringtherailwaysand Community RailAwards. Ourrailbusinessesworkclosely with Arriva UKTrains isproud tobeasponsoroftheACoRP Arriva UKTrains best oflucktoallthenomineesthisyear. attract more peopleontoourtrainservices.We wish the very community raillinestohelpusimprove ourrailwayandto endorsement ofallthefantasticworkthatgoesonacross our Awards onceagain.Theseawards are awell-deserved Stagecoach ispleasedtobesupportingtheCommunityRail Stagecoach Group of luck. nity RailAwards againthisyearandwewisheveryone thebest work thatgoeson.We are delightedtosponsorthe Commu- breaking growth inpassengernumbersunderlinesall thehard ers really wantfrom theirlocalrailwayandtheresultant record Rail, itconnectsuscloselytowhatourcustomersandsupport- lines. GWRhasalwaysbeenahugesupporterofCommunity andashareuntapped marketsinWiltshire ofthe‘Three Rivers’ connecting newcommunitiesandopeninguppreviously scenic ‘HeartofWessex’Beachroute, line,theurbanSevern Branches;thehighly allthefamousDevonandCornwall With Great Western Railway the verybestofluck. delighted tobeableshare itwithyou.We wishallentrants celebrate thebestofwhat industry doesandweare seems veryfitting! Tonight provides the opportunityto ACoRP CommunityRailAward fortheIt’s Your Stationcategory is anorganicprocess andsoforussponsorshipoftheprized partnerships andvolunteergroups. Communitypartnership serve, thankstothetireless workofourcommunityrail of investment.We are already rooted inthe communities we the ownershipofArriva,willmakehappen,with£1billion Franchise,whichfromnew Northern 1Aprilhasbeenunder services delivered intheNorthofEngland.Thisisapromise the Over thenextfewyearswewillseeatransformationinrail Northern to thepeopleofcommunitiestheyserve. opportunitiesavailable traffic andenhancetherangeofjourney supporters ofthesevitaleconomiclifelines;togrow inbound Community Railways.We look forward toworkingwith serve severalmainlinestationsthatactasgatewaysto Awards. OurhighspeedtrainsalongtheEastandWest coast, TrainsVirgin isproud tosponsor the2016CommunityRail West Coast Virgin Trains EastCoast&Virgin Trains requirements. for accommodationthatwassurplustotherailway’s garden atover250ofour stations orwhohavefoundnewuse Partnerships andinrecognition ofthededicatedpeoplewho Awards inanticipationofsuccessfulnewCommunityRail We are delightedtosupporttheannualCommunityRail ScotRail

3 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Messages from Sponsors 4 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Involving Young People centre andthe oldPadihamlooplinewhich, aswehave they researched thehistoryofRoseGrove asarailway schools tookpartinsixclassroom basedsessionswhere Community RailDevelopment Fund.Thepupilsfromboth was successfulinattractinga grantfromtheDesignated The project becameknownas‘RoseGrove Revived’and educational resourcecentre atAccringtonecostation. Curriculum andinvolvesanescortedrailjourneytothe directly linkstotherequirementsofNational As mentionedabovealltheworkcarriedoutbypupils and asplashofcolouratthestation. who workedreallyhardtoprovidethe‘finishingtouches’ Lowerhouse, thelatterlocatedveryclosetostation - of twolocalprimaryschools-PadihamGreenand this hasbeenconsiderablyenhancedbytheinvolvement been introducedandplanted.Itwasatransformationbut signage andinformationpanels.Flowertubshavealso time informationscreens,CCTV, alongwithnewseating, passenger waitingshelter, aticketvendingmachine,real station arealmakeover. Nowithasanewfitforpurpose from theBurnleyandPendleGrowthFundtogive impression. LancashireCountyCouncilcommitted£160k telephone kiosk.All-in-allnotaverywelcomingfirst that wereonlyfitforverysmallpeopleandabattered protected passengershadlongsincebeenremoved,seats passenger shelterwheretheinnerboxthatactually face lift.Infacttheonlyremainingfacilitieswerea So thetimehadcometogivestationawellneeded a smallcarparkandhasbusservicespassingcloseby. former PadihamLooprailwayline.Thestationalsooffers purpose builtwalkingandcyclingroutewhichusesthe to Padiham,inparticularviathePadihamGreenwaya western sideofBurnleyaswellbeingconnected one ofthestopsonnewserviceasitserves operate hourly, 7daysaweek.RoseGrovewaschosenas West Curve.Thenewservicewouldbesemi-fast and Manchester serviceviatherecentlyreinstatedTodmorden following theintroductionofnewBlackburnto 2013/14. Thisallchangedfromthe17thMay, 2015 service andusedbyabout40,000passengersayearin line onlyservedbythehourlyallstationsPrestontoColne Rose GrovewasableakstationonthePrestontoColne why RoseGrove……? attractive andsaferenvironment forpeopletouse.So bleakest stationsinEastLancashire amuchmore has beenusedtogreat effect inmakingoneof the linking themtostationprojects. Thiswinforboth the needsofNationalCurriculum(keystage2)and considerable expertiseindevelopingprojects thatmeet children formanyyearsnowandhasbuiltup The EastLancashire CRPhasworkedwithprimaryschool for RoseGrove Revivedand theAdvetures of‘SmallFry’ Involving Young People Brian Haworth,CommunityRailLancashire Sponsored byRailMedia First cycle/walking route thatfollowsthecourse oftheold raise theprofileofPadiham Greenwaywhichisa service CommunityRailLancashire (CRL)alsowantedto As partofpromotingthenew BlackburntoManchester rail linkbetweenRoseGrove andManchester. the bookletandDVDbutalso madethemawareofthe number ofimportantwaysincludingtheproduction & Yorkshire. Theprojecthelpeddeveloptheirskillsina major stagingpostforfreighttrainsbetweenLancashire station andwhatitmighthavebeenlikewhenwasa the pupilsalsovisitedRoseGrovetogetarealfeelfor As wellasusingtheinternettocarryouttheirresearch tank ofanengineandthecharactershemetonway. by SmallFrywhenhewasinadvertentlysuckedintothe same name.Thepupilstellthestoryofjourneymade simply ‘OperationStickleback’alongwithaDVDofthe illustrated bythepupilsandmadeintoabookcalled and ManchesterviatheTodmorden Curve.Thestorywas stickleback aptlycalled‘SmallFry’betweenRoseGrove inspired thepupilstoimageajourneymadeby where manyoftheengineswentformaintenance,and became folkloreatRoseGroveshedandCreweworks, the engineersoftenfoundsticklebacksinthem.This tank uptheengines!Sowhentanksweredrained from thenearbyLeeds-Liverpoolcanaltobeused The pupilsfoundoutthatitwasnotuncommonforwater went on. unearthed somefascinatinginformationaboutwhat pupils whodelvedintothehistoryofengineshed engine shed(code10F)andthePadihamloopline.The Green researchedthehistoryofformerRoseGrove how therailwayshapedtheircommunitywhilstPadiham School focusedonthehistoryofRoseGrovestationand seen, hasbeenconvertedintoaGreenway. Lowerhouse :

visible sodevelopingthefishytheme,pupilsworking Rose Grovestationisbelowroadlevelandnoteasily running inboards. station andwasalsousedonaseriesofspecialthemed erected alongthelengthofplatformendfenceat and Lowerhouseproducedahugebannerwhichhasbeen Continuing the‘fishy’themepupilsofPadihamGreen and isavailableinlocalshops,thelibrarypostoffice. has beendistributedtoallpupilsatPadihamGreenSchool included aspartofaz-cardpocketsizedtimetable.This children producedamapoftheroutewhichhasbeen encouraged localstocycleorwalktheGreenway. The This notonlyraisedtheprofileofnewservicebutalso was availableandreadilyaccessibleviatheGreenway. Aughton StMichaelsSchoolfor‘Town Green -AConversationPlace’ Third: for thepurposeofinstillingagreaterunderstanding, the curriculumincludingdrama,geographyandmaths,all in schoolswhichincorporatesseveraldifferent elementsof core learningresource.HehasbeenrunningTrain Week’s For thelastyearJonhasbeenusingThePoacherLineasa their travelchoices. rail travel,andencourageswholefamiliestoreconsider this remarkable project thatenthusesyoungpeopleabout Jon Moody, the SchoolsOfficerfrom Sustransdeveloped Jon Moody, SustransforTrain Weeks Second: to Manchester a newraillink of Padihamthat the inhabitants awareness to to raise Rose Groveand Padiham to loop linefrom Lancashire North

hopefully encouragemembersoftheirfamilytotrythe have receivedCRL’s ‘PassporttoSafeRailTravel’ andwill Curriculum. AswellasthetriptoManchesterallpupils all achievingtherequirementsofNational skills andusedtheinternetforresearchinglocalhistory- In addition,thepupilshavedevelopedarangeofcreative is forecasttodoubleoverthenextyear. find andusageasaresulthasbeenrapidlyincreasing Grove nowhasaverywelcomingenvironment,iseasierto very strikingmarketingmaterialsatthesametime.Rose transformed thisrundownstationandproducedsome Lowerhouse andPadihamGreenprimaryschoolshas the EastLancashireCRP, CommunityRailLancashire& The collaborationbetweenLancashireCountyCouncil, resulted insomeverypositivemediareports. unveiling oftheartworkandlaunchbook.This Grove alongwithlocaldignitariestowitnessthe saw bothsetsofchildrengatherontheplatformatRose A biglaunchwasheldonthe25thSeptember, 2015which curves. make ajourneyfromRoseGrovetoManchesterviathe As arewardfortheirworkbothschoolswereinvitedto at thestationentrance. sculpture, madefrommildsteelwhichhasbeenerected with CRL’s ArtistinResidencedevelopedaneyecatching tinue tobeenjoyed. the long-termmaintenance of theareasothatitcancon- place. Theschoolalsoagreed thattheywouldtakeon litter anddaubedgraffiti feltthiswouldbetheideal by Town Green train stationwherepeoplehaddropped Town GreenTrain Station.Thechildrensawtheland need ofachange.Onethoselocationsidentifiedwas their localcommunitiesandidentifyplacesthatwerein of theawardrequiredchildrentotakeawalkaround change theywanttosee’withintheircommunities.Part curriculum. Theawardencouragedchildrento‘bethe completed anArchieBishopAward aspartoftheirPHSE Back in2014thechildrenofAughtonStMichaelsSchool journeys, andlovingtheexperience. Jon’s work,youngpeoplearetakingtheirfirstevertrain enthusiasm andappreciationoftraintravel.Through

5 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Involving Young People 6 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Involving Diverse Groups this college. lights thegreatworktheydo at to apronsandcards.Italso high- produce fromcanvasprinted bags outlet forsomeoftheirother Dee Travel. Italso givestheman working inPartnershipwith Severn are keentostressthatthey college bythestudentsandthey designed andproducedatthe The signageandvinylswereall in earnest. branding oftheenterprisebegan opportunity toutilisethecaféand Derwen Collegeembracedthe comfortable. waiting roomandtoiletsclean the studentsisthattheykeep at thecollege.Allthatisaskedof jams andpreservesthataremade availability oflocalproducesuchas with acafé,wherenoneexistedandaddedtothatthe ed benefitisthatthevillageandpassengersareprovided No chargesaremadebySevernDeeTravel; toustheadd- for someoftheirstudents. potential forthistobeusedasaworkexperiencevenue Gobowan approachedDerwenCollegewhosawthe of thecomfortablewaitingroomwithcaféfacilities. Some timeagoSevernDeeTravel fittedoutasmallcomer special educationalneeds. development ofawiderangeyoungpeoplewith promotes thevocational,educational,socialandpersonal establishment whichthroughpersonalisedlearning Derwen CollegeinGobowenisafurthereducational buildings canbringtothewidercommunity encourage involvementandmaximisethebenefitsthese concept isembeddedhere anditactivelyseeksto Chester-Shrewsbury RailPartnershipthecommunityrail at thisstationinShropshire. AfundingPartnerof the experience theycontinuetooffer improved facilities building atGobowenStation.Withover20years’ Trains Wales railagentoperatingfrom thesouthbound Community RailOfficerfortheline.ItisasanArriva managed by6volunteerDirectors oneofwhichisthe DeeTravel,Severn isanotforprofit companyandis Involving DiverseGroups Sponsored byArrivaUKTrains Severn DeeTravel,Severn DerwenCollege&Gobowen for GobowenStationWork ExperienceCafé First The partnershipbetweenthetwoorganisationscontinues The Results design andmakeourcake. free reintotheirHospitalityandCateringDepartment passenger breakfastandcelebrationlunch.We alsogave organising thecateringandwaitingonstaff forourfree 20th anniversarylatelastyearandthecollegehelpedby is Gobowenstation.SevernDeeTravel celebratedits on the‘uniqueness’that everyone smileandbuilt a viewwhichhasmade our loointoawith project totransform artwork; anexciting with usonapublic Department haveworked Performing Arts Their Creativeand feel areappropriate. and plantingbloomsthey station planters,selecting students alsotendthe development andthe features horticulture The collegecurriculum :

communicate withcustomers’. They learntoworkasateam and in theheartofcommunity. employability skillswhileworking social, vocationalandwider opportunity todevelopexcellent provides studentswiththe local railwaystationcafé,which example, thecollegemanages longer-term careeraspirations.For with theirvocationalstudiesand placements whichlinkverywell high-quality workexperience ‘Almost allstudentsundertake From thereport: recognised asfollows: The Partnershipworkingwas ‘Outstanding’ in2016. that Ofstedratedthecollegeas to flourishandweweredelighted

outcomes forthegroupsandourteamstoo. events andtherehavebeenmanypositive received somewonderfulfeedbackfromthese the mythsandreservationsabouttraintravel.We to arangeofdiversegroups,helpingdispel Try theTrain events,overthecourseofsixweeks, together atthestartofyeartoprovideseven the railwayasaccessiblepossible.We joined train. Thisincludesafocusonhelpingtomake encouraging moreandpeopletotravelby Community RailPartnershiparecommittedto Both GoviaThameslinkRailwayandSussex of peopleandabilities.Therearenolargechequebooks This isCommunityRailinactionworkingwitharange differently. community andrailway. Hereisastaffed station;staffed organisations hasbroughtgreatbenefitstothe The mutualunderstandingbetweenthesetwo East Lancashire CRP, Rail&Partners with DarwenBC,Northern Blackburn children andthelocalcommunity, designedtobreathelifeintoarun-down lightlyusedcountrystation.Bymixing all thesedifferent agegroupsandabilitytogether auniquepartnershipbetweentherailwayand local the railwaystationhasbeen significantlyraisedinthecommunityandunique artwork atthestationhasbeen community hasbeencreated, whichwouldnothavehappenedwithoutthecatalyst ofthisproject.Theprofile ‘All Together Now’isaninnovativeprojectwhich engagedwithdisadvantagedpeople,localstudents,school Govia ThameslinkRailway&SussexCRPforTry theTrain Experience widely viewedandacclaimed bythelocalcommunity. for AllTogether Now Second: Third: everyone gainingsomethinggoodfromtheexperience. the outputsareasgreatandwidetheycanbewith here, there’s lotsofgoodwillandtimedevotedtoitbut

7 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Involving Diverse Groups 8 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Community Art Schemes – Permanent Then whattodowiththeceiling? shapes andblobsbecamecastlestrees,abridgeswans. laid downandtheneverydaytheprojectmovedalong.Odd massive project.Thebarebonesofthedesignwere artist andvariousotherinterestedlocalssetaboutthis youngsters fromtheclubs,youthgroupleaders, a weekinsummerschoolholidays2015,teamof they knewbestandsawaroundtheirtown.During like, theydecideduponalocaltheme,topaintwhat deciding whattheywouldliketheirprojecttolook With allthatinplacetheyoungpeoplesetabout permission from Network Rail. andACoRPofcourseacquireSouthern secure generous fundingfrom KentCountyCouncil, youth clubs,findacoolartisttoguidetheproject, we involvetheyoungpeoplewhoattendtown’s rural EdenbridgeTown station?Theanswerisyesif similar totheverydulllookingunderpassat graffiti artormosaicworks,couldwedosomething Urban underpassesoftengetthecooltreatment with West KentExtra,Edenbridge Town Youth Club,EdenbridgeChurches Community ArtSchemes for EdenbridgeTown StationUnderpassArtProject Sponsored byGovia Youth Group &GrahamUpton (Permanent) First :

entertained whilstwaitingfor thetrain. the designs.Thesewillhelp to keepbothchildrenandadults shelter. Therearealsosimplegamesthat canbeplayedwithin you canhavetheseasyourownbypositioningyourself in the the bottomhalvesofpeopleinvariousdresscarryingbags, shopping. The4panelsontheoutsideofshelterdepict to adesignershoppingvillagesothethemeforshelter is Bright artworkisnowinplace.BraintreeFreeporthome Braintree Freeport StationEssexfrom dreary tocheery. The transformationofthepassengerwaitingshelterat refreshments andspeeches. occasion weheldaribboncuttingceremonywith themselves. Theyfinishedontimeandtomarkthe worked, tiredandexhaustedbutreallyproudof artist hadtobebackatwork,soallweeklongthey There wasonlyaweektocompletetheprojectas background sothatisexactlywhattheydid. One youngpersonsuggestedgoldstarsonadarkblue Chester-Shrewsbury DeeTravel RailPartnership,Severn &DerwenCollege for ‘Dreary toCheery’Braintree Freeport StationShelterProject Sarah Bracey, Essex& South Suffolk CRP Third: for LoowithaView Second: summer. to doanotherartprojectatthetown’s otherstationthis project hasalsoledtotheyouthclubsaskingpermission added inacolourfulwaytothestationenvironment.This proud of.Agreateffort byagreatcommunitythathas ticed before,itreallyissomethingforallinvolvedtobe something different, alittledetailthatyouhadn’t no- Every timeyouwalkthroughtheunderpassnotice a farawayplacewhilstpayingvisit or shouldwesayaloowithview?Travel withusto transform afunctionalroomintowithview it hashereatGobowenStation.Sohere’s howto with somewhere,sometime?We thinkitcanand bugbears thateveryonehashadabadexperience Can ittransformaplacethatusuallyisoneofthetop should makeyousmile. Art comesinallshapesandsizesbutwebelieveit

9 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Community Art Schemes – Permanent 10 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Community Art Schemes – Renewable & Smaller projects event atPlymouth stationwhichwasattended On 9thJunewelaunchedthe songbyhavingan End Results future visitsandprojectswould alsobepossible. permanent linkbetweenthe twoschoolssothat another time.We alsowantedtoestablisha and encouragetheirparentstodoitwiththem the childrentobeenthusedaboutjourney with thiscreativeprojectnotonlydidwewant Beauty. Bylinkingthetwoschoolstogether which leadstoanAreaofOutstandingNatural despite havingtherailwaylineontheirdoorstep also haveverylittleaccesstoopencountryside, come upwiththesong.Childreninthisarea easy tostartpullingtheseideastogether from thetrainwindowandthereitwas something toshareaboutwhattheyhadseen are ‘nogoodatEnglish’.However, eachchildhad immediately protestedathowtheycan’t writepoetryor to writeapoemabouttheirjourneytheywouldhave children inneedthecity. Ifwehadaskedthechildren GCSEs andtheareahasoneofhighestrates higher education,only53%attainA-Cgradesintheir economics butalsoofaspiration.Fewchildrengoonto areas ofthecity. Thisdeprivationisnotsimplyoneof The KeyhamareaofPlymouthisonethemostdeprived Objectives song. class madepriortotherecordingof out ofthewindowonfreetripeach based onwhatthechildrencouldsee Crabtree. Theideasforthesongwere the helpofperformancepoetSally composed andrecordedthesongwith from CollegeRoadPrimaryinPlymouth four classfromCalstockPrimaryandone Over thecourseoftwodaysoneyear itself. atively, aswellpromoting theline broaden thechildren’s horizonscre- of art,inthiscasemusic,thatwould rural, toworktogetheronapiece ends oftheline,oneurbanand two schoolstogetherfrom opposite Tamar Valley Lineproject wastobring The conceptbehindtheSongfor Sally Crabtree, Calstock Primary School,CollegeRoadSchool Community ArtSchemes (Renewable &Smallerprojects) and Devon & Cornwall RailPartnership and Devon&Cornwall for ASongtheTamar Valley Line Sponsored byGovia First telephone andformeasapoetIfeltgreatsenseof and travellershearingthesongforfirsttimeon Sally Crabtreesaid“Itwasajoytowitnessthechildren can dowiththemcomealive. a phoneboxinpublicspacemadewordsandwhatyou words andwiththeirownideas.Presentingsongin metaphorically andliterallyhaveadventureswith :

that theycantravelfurtherboth the childrenasprojectshowedthem of theprojectwillfundamentallybeon children involved.Thelastingbenefits reminder tolocalpeopleandthe YouTube forever, serving asalasting 4,526 people.Thesongwillremainon has reachedapotentialaudienceof to tweetsandretweetsonTwitter views throughsocialmediaandthanks Since thelaunchsonghashad700 on abiscuit). edible words(onsugarpaperarranged listen andcreatetheirownpoetryusing coming throughthestationalsogotto the telephonereceiverbutpassengers dren hearthefinishedsongthrough Whilst there,notonlycouldthechil- and installedinthestationforaday. into aspecialDialSongPhoneBooth by theschools.Thesongwasuploaded community toproduce14colourfulpaintingsandwithin The scopewastoworkwithdiversegroupswithinthe Challenge in2015. Designated LineSeminarheldbyACoRPandtheAbellio The SunshineCoastLinecompetitiongrewoutofthe local stationsforthesummer. being printedoutinlargeformatanddisplayedattheir their ownpostercompetitionwiththewinningposters Partnership wereerectedatstationsandeachschoolheld Poster cases,purchasedbytheCambrianRailways safety messagetothecustomers. touch ofcolourtostationswhilstspreadingapositive schools involvedinapostercompetitiontobothadd Railway linebygettinglocalprimaryandsecondary enhancing smallruralstationsontheCambrianCoast Arriva Trains Wales developedacoordinatedapproachto Working together, theCambrianRailwaysPartnership and enjoyed it.Itwasareallygoodwayofusingthetrainand School said“Suchagreatproject.Thechildrenreally Catherine Downing,classteacherfromCalstockPrimary railways inanoriginalway.” not normallyexpecttofinditandwhichcelebratedthe installation thattookpoetryandsongtoplacesyoumay pride inworkingwiththechildrentocreatean Essex &SouthSuffolk CRP, AbellioGreater Anglia&TheLevelBestCafé Cambrian RailwaysPartnership&ArrivaTrains Wales for CompetitionontheSunshineCoastLine for EnhancingSmallRuralStations Second Third: eat!) theirownediblepoems. ranging fromstudentstofamiliesjoiningincreate(and described theprojectas“fascinating”with40people Members ofthepublicengagedatPlymouthstation really appreciatedit,asdidthechildrenfromClass2.” different place.You musthaveputinalotofeffort andI interacting withthechildrenwhogotoschoolinavery would needtovisit5stations,nameanimalsatthe would thenlaunchacompetitionwhereparticipants pictures weredisplayedontheSunshineCoastLine,we picture andallwithinatimescaleof3months.Oncethe each paintingtohaveahiddenanimalpaintedintothe :

brighten upthebranchlinestations. The ideawassimplethepure aimto opportunity. we sooncameupwithaworkable she looksafterwasinfectious and learning andphysicaldisabilities) the projectandstudents(with enlightening, herenthusiasmfor the LevelBestCaféinColchesterwas forward. MeetingwithJanefrom won fundingtotaketheproject one oftherunnersupthatyearand rail safetyslogan.Thisprojectwas station theyvisitedandproducea stations takeapictureofeach

11 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Community Art Schemes – Renewable & Smaller projects 12 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - It’s Your Station Carillion. been involvedinworkingdaysandmorerecently us inthis.OvertheyearsRBSandWiganMetrostaff have Wigan bound,AdactusHousingandTfGMalsosupported their BrighterBoroughFundhelpedusreplacethefence ACoRP, Northern,NetworkRail,localCouncillorsthrough Who hassupportedus? there tofindbagsfullnicelynamed. people anditisnounusualtogoup plants havebeendonatedbylocal of travellingbytrain.Manyour and peopleenjoytheexperience result theenvironmentisimproved boxes –bugandasa feeders –plantersbatboxesbird our projects,theyhavemadebird ownership bybeinginvolvedin out todo?Ourneighbourstake How havewedonewhatset and ourtopiarytrain. as TheHindofHindleythewindmill been repairedandaddedotherssuch We haveuncoveredfeatureslongforgotten whichhave community andourneighbours. the regularsfromlocalpub,oldermembersof Scouts, Guides,RestorativeJustice,Schools,andColleges, In ordertodothisweinvolvedthecommunity:Explorer from. was tomakethestationabetterplacevisitandtravel Undaunted wesetaboutclearingandtidying–ouraim looked morelikeaforestthanstationgarden. edge oftheplatformonManchesterboundsideand Our stationwasinaterriblestatewithivygrowingtothe could sayishistory, orisit? January 2007wasourinauguralmeetingandtherestwe and inanutshelliswhatourgroupallabout. which wetakeoutintothecommunity when givingtalks WE LIVE”Thisisaquotefromourpresentationboards ABOUT INVOLVING THOSEINTHECOMMUNITYWHICH “IT ISABOUTMORETHANPLANTSANDGARDENSIT Sponsored byNorthern Top Gold&CategoryWinner It’s Your Station Friends ofHindleyStation planting areasandstonetomakeaMemorialGarden. which wehaveuncoveredbeenusedtoedgethe archway, compostbins,bughotel,livingroof, bricks Recycle/reuse: Palletshavebeenusedforfences,the this isnowbeingtreated. do nothaveaccess.KnotWeed hasalso been anissuebut on thesteepbankingbelowRailwayStreettowhichwe have hadverylittlevandalismandlitterisonlyanissue Due tothefactthatweencourageallagegroups week. contacted bymanyothers,includingHagFoldonlythis Westhoughton, Hattersley, DaisyHillandhavebeen Friends Groupshavingbeenvisitedby:HeatonChapel, other groupsparticularlythosesettingupStation We havesharedourskillsandgoodpracticewith trees alldonatedfromourneighboursandthenurseries. hundreds ofdaffodils andbluebellsbloombeneaththe rockeries andplantswhichareeasytomaintain.Inspring Wigan Boundwasplannedasamorenaturalsidewith plants. Rotary ClubsponsoredourManchesterboundbedding sponsored someofourplantersthisyearandHindley Bickershaw HallNurseriesalocalfamilybusinesshave it gradually. time asweuseahandsawandclear longer abletoselfseed,thistakes most ofthishasbeencleareditisno Buddleia hasbeenanissueandnow station house. from thestationofficeor Wigan boundsidethewatercomes back ofthewaitingshelter. Onthe arrange awaterbuttfromthe Bus) howeverwedohopeto (former soapbarrelscourtesyofFirst barrels –beneathour‘livingroof’ supplies waterwhichwestorein Manchester boundourneighbour with theirdynamism,creativityandcan-doattitude. they’ve alreadyachieved.Thejudgeswereveryimpressed ambitious plansforthefuturewhichwillexpandonwhat the worktowidercommunity. Thegroup has media canbeusedtogenerateinterestinandadvertise materials andartwork.They’vealsoshownhowsocial London stationwithanimaginativemixofplants,recycled run downanduninvitingentrancetoaNorth-West train operatorandNetworkRailthey’vetransformedthe time. Working collaborativelywiththecommunity, their This younggrouphaveachievedamazingthingsinashort a localprimaryschoolandmadedreamcometruefor Supporting thecommunity–webuiltanallotmentfor we uncoverrecycled. rubbish willberemovedfrombeneaththisandthestone Wigan sidebeneaththeoldstationhousegarden.The uncover theLancashireandYorkshire mosaiconthe over thewinterhavehadavolunteerarchaeologist We have,intheprocessofourwork,discovered muchand Strawberry FayreinJune. be donatedtoKildareGrangeandpresentedatour installed inthetickethall.Theoriginaloiloncanvasisto piece ofartworkentitled‘CelebratingHardWork’ isnow in thetickethallpostercaseswhichtheyprovided.A Hindley HighSchool–continuestoupdatetheirartwork disabilities andwealsoworkwithyoungoffenders. to thoseofmorematureyearswithvaryingdegrees who attendthestudiosareallagesfromyoungchildren produced twonewpiecesofartworkthisyear. Thepeople Pye Studios,withfundingfromBrighterBorough,have involved inmanyoftheir‘productions’. and otherfundraisingthroughouttheyearhavingbeen and Tableau. We inturnsupporttheirMacmillanLunches and presentsraisedmoneyforourChristmasLights raising funds,atChristmaswesuppliedaFather Accommodation –theyholdaStrawberryFayreeachJune Much supportcomesfrom:KildareGrangeSheltered appropriate clothing! We alwaysworkinasafemannerwearingthe customised andrepainteditinblackgold. a localschoolgardenbyourfencingcontractor, wethen ‘Royal Train’ anewadditionthisyearwasrescuedfrom Manchester boundwererescuedfromthenurseries.Our been fashionedintoatopiarytrain.TheHebes A hedgewasreplantedhavingbeendonatedandhasnow Friends ofCricklewoodStation Top Silver

one ofthemostuninvitingstationsonnetwork. tenacity andtheirdeterminationtoimprovewhatmust be platform. Thejudgeswereimpressedwiththegroups are planningtoextendtheiractivitiesontothestation They’ve alsobrightenedupthestationwithartworkand little inthewayoffacilitiestosupporttheirefforts. this grouphasre-establishedtheirgarden,despitehaving in thefaceofadversity. Whenothersmayhavegivenup, this verysmallgroup,ledbyBabsAllen,hastriumphed Transport forGreaterManchester’s improvementwork, Despite suffering theloss oftheiroriginalgardendueto Top Gold&CategoryWinners” unanimously agreethattheyrichlydeservetheirtitleof impressed usanddespitestrongcompetitionwe depth andbreadthoftheirachievementshasreally over 100.ThejudgessaidoftheFriendsHindley, “The community toknitorcrochetpoppiesandnowhavewell To commemoratetheBattleofSommeweasked Biodiversity. schools visitthestationandwelookatBees vulnerable families.This‘classroom’willbeusedwhen in our‘outdoorclassroom’,whichwewillsharewith a litterpickandattheJunehalftermplantedvegetables summer, suppliedbythelocalauthority. AtEasterwedid Easter. We plantedmillenniumoaksinthelocalpark last worked withthemeveryhalftermandatChristmas the schoolsummerholidaysin2015.Sincethenwehave and theworkbegan–initiallywedidsixweeksof Police Cadets.We sourcedfundingfortheiruniforms GMP askedustoworkwiththePCSO’s andHindleyYoung birthday hoedown. a ‘Friends’sonwhenwebuilthim‘chuckwagon’for Friends ofHattersleyStation Top Bronze

13 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - It’s Your Station 14 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Most Enhanced Station Buildings and Environs Masterplan, preparedbyconsultants,suggestedthata stations intheWest ofEngland.TheSevernBeachStation showing theimprovementsneededtoupdatelocal participated inthedevelopmentofStationMasterplans In 2013FGW, thelocalauthoritiesandSCRPhad necessary. South GloucestershireCouncilthatacompleterebuildwas not fitforpurpose,anditwasrecognisedbyGWR would notfitintotheoldshelter. Thestationwascertainly (SCRP) schoolrailfamiliarisationvisitsasawholeclass accommodate SevernsideCommunityRailPartnership improvement. Alargershelterwasalsoneededto forecasts addedtothejustification,andurgency, for distribution centresinthelocality. Continuinggrowth factor beingthegrowthofnewwarehousingand passenger numbershadrisenby46%-onesignificant to 390.Duringthe15monthsNovember2015 station onweekdaysin2008was116;by2015ithadrisen The numberofpassengers(footfall)usingSevernBeach public transportlinktoBristol. deprivation factorsandtherailwayprovides theonly somewhat isolatedcommunitywithrelatively high Beachisa added tothedesolateambience.Severn smoke hazefrom heavyindustryinnearbyAvonmouth, derelict landnexttotheplatform,oftencoupledwith There wasonebenchseat–andnothingelse.Theopen open tothestrong windsblowingfrom theChannel. old smallbus-stoptypeshelter, withoutanyglazingand Until recently, Beachstationconsistedofavery Severn Severnside CommunityRailPartnership Severnside Most EnhancedStationBuildings Sponsored byRailwayHeritageTrust and Environs First

together bySCRP, completedbycontributionsfromSCRP, total fundingpackageofaround£92,000wasput aimed atimprovingaccesstotheSevernVale Area.A lottery fundingfromthe“ForgottenLandscape”project Community RailDevelopmentFund,and£5,000heritage funding (£20,000)fromACoRPthroughtheDesignated cost ofstationshelters,theavailabilitysignificant the nationalCommunityRailSteeringGrouptocut community drivenproject.Theseincludedaninitiativeby together, would leadtoamoreaffordable and A numberoffactorsemergedin2014-2015which,taken reduced cost. delivered, withcommunityinvolvement,ataconsiderably proposal wasthatanattractivestationshouldbe these coststobeexcessive.AkeyobjectiveoftheSCRP a costofaround£150,000.ThePartnershipconsidered new shelter, fencingandseatingshouldbeprovidedat A New Station for Severn Beach for ANewStationSevern :

community and developtheir to stepupengagement withthe with fundinginplace,SCRP was able Once thebasiccostingswere firm,and previous estimates. package priceconsiderablybelow was awardedtoSISKRail,ata removal ofoldshelter. Thecontract location neededtobewindproof),and fencing (whichbecauseoftheexposed water buttsconnectedtothegutter, shelter withinternalpostercases,and of theschemeouttotender–anew GWR. GWRputthemainelements South GloucestershireCounciland

and looksforwardtoconsiderablyincreaseduse. MetroWest. Thenewstationprovidesa brightwelcome service toSevernBeachwillbedoubledin2019aspartof as therailheadfortouriststoSevernVale, thetrain commuting andthedevelopmentofSevernBeachstation With thegrowthoflocallightindustry, more been asignificantachievement. time andwellbelowbudget–amajorobjective-has a CommunityRailPartnership.Deliveringtheprojecton been sponsoredandafundingpackageputtogetherby on theGWRnetworkthatacompletestationrebuildhas below theDCRDFbidpackageprice.Thisisfirsttime original 2013quotejustforthebasicelements,andwell of thestationhascomeinataround£75,000–half The totalcostofthewholerebuildingandenhancement scheme hasbeenamajorsuccess. involvement and“feelgoodfactor”achievedbythe now lookingafterthestation.Theamountoflocal attraction! Thelocalgardeningandhistorygroupsare neglected area–andhasevenbecomealocalvisitor the newstationprovidingarealfilliptosomewhat Bristol broadcast.Therewastremendouslocalsupport, paper andtheimprovementschemefeaturedonaRadio community groups;anarticlewaswrittenforthelocal meetings wereheldwiththeParishCounciland seaside resortuptotheearly1960s.Consultation local historyofthearea-SevernBeachwasamajor displays, newseating,andinterpretationpanelsonthe These includedsustainable“cycleplanters”aswellfloral suggestions forthevisualenhancementofstation. for GlossopStationLightingImprovement Friends ofGlossopStation Third:: installed –atLlandeilo.StationandHallingStation. use oftheirlandandonJune1stourfirstnewhubwas of availablelevelground.NetworkRailagreedtothe commissioned capableofbeinginstalledonanypiece An innovativeprefabricatedbuildingdesignwas ‘hubs’. Trains Wales todeveloptheconceptofrail-community has beenworkingwithWelsh GovernmentandArriva Over thelasttwoyearsHeartofWales LineForum platform waitingshelters. historic buildingsweredemolished,leavingonlythe on theHeartofWales lineroute.Inthe1990’s the Llandeilo stationservesoneofthemaincommunities for TheLlandeiloCommunity Heart ofWales LineForum improvements ofrecentyears! developments andenvironmental lights enhancethemanyinfrastructure No moretwilightgloomatGlossop asthe environmentally friendlydimming atnight. successfully raisedluminosity levelsandare requirements. Thenewlights have which hadfailedtomeetmodernday replaced 35yearoldglobelightfittings Rail intheinteriorofstation.Thesehave filaments, havebeeninstalledbyNetwork replica heritagelanternlights,withLED and TheRailwayHeritageTrust, 14authentic of GlossopStationandfundedbyNorthern Station! InarecentprojectledbyFriends Definitely newlampsforoldatGlossop

Second: ‘Rail Hub’

15 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Most Enhanced Station Buildings and Environs 16 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Small Projects Award – Under £500 hence nocost to FoBS). appointed electrical contractor, B. Schenkerusingtheir work waskindlyarrangedby D. vandal-resistant enclosure(this install projectinglampswithin a at thechosenpointandsecurely rail. Provideelectricalisolation under thefanlightsill/bottom the largepipingrunningjust nearby distributionboardalong • it tositonthesupports(therewasnocost). existing supportsbysimplydrillingtwoholesthatallowed a lengthofmetaltrackingwhichweadaptedtofitthe supports attherearoffanlight–intruthwefound • Constructasimplesupportiveplatformonthecastiron Paxton (oftheCrystalPalacefame!). shed builtundertheguidanceoffamousArchitectJoseph station, formerlyalargeglazingcoveredtrainengine between theplatforms.Itisallthatremainsof1863 • Buxton Station: The followingisasummaryofthescopeworksat and thengoforitwithyourplansinplace!! also prepareforfailurethatwilltriggerfurtherchallenge research, involvethecommunity, prepareforsuccess,but your goals,setuppartnerships,andthendo template forsuccessthatothersmayeasilyfollow. Define tremendous value-for-money endeavourandprovidesa structure andwasdoneatverylowcost.Itrepresentsa this projecthasmadeasignificantimpactuponlisted scheme shouldberecognised.We sincerely believethat It isouropinionthatthissimple,butcost-effective overpower it. manner, topay homagetotheconstructionandnot illumination uponourheritageassetinasympathetic dramatic structure,wewantedtogentlyplayinspirational Rather thanthrowinglightinappropriatelyonthe night-time. spoke soloudlyindaylightcompletelydisappeared inthe believed thistobevisuallypoor, theworthywindowthat and leftthewindowfeature indarkanonymity. We yellow blanketoverthesupportivemillstonegritgable Adjacent unsympatheticstreet lightingcastahuge fanlight fellintoobscurityunderthecoverofdarkness. a significantarchitectural andhistoricalfeature, the historical artefactandtofulfilthisdream!! Although wanted ittosucceedfortworeasons, toenhancethe “to seethefanlightwindowcomealiveatnight!”We This project wasthedream ofourCommitteeSecretary, Small Projects Award –Under£500 Route electricalcablingfrom Illuminate thefanlightwindowingablewall Sponsored byCommunityRailLancashire First : FriendsofBuxtonStationforFanlight detract fromtheheritageasset’s valueandthereforethe told: “TheCouncilaremovedtoresistanyworksthatwill given freeadvicewassoontemperedbywhatwewere application wasfreeofcharge!).Ourdelightatbeing that itshouldbefreeaslistedbuildingconsent of £56appliestosuchadvice,butwesuccessfullyargued Peak’s PlanningOfficersfreeofcharge(normallyafee a negotiatedoffer ofpre-application advicefromHigh Armed withSchenker’s backing,wetookadvantageof the helpfromaRailwayHeritageTrust grantin2009. following theirrestorationofthefanlightwindowwith encouraged andreferredtothisasagreatdevelopment their EstatesSurveyor(SeniorManager).Bothwerevery from SimonIves,HeadofPropertyandMarkNicholls, for theirsupportandwereverygratefulthatreceived B. Schenker(nowDBCargo),theownersoffanlight Before wemadeourformalapplication,consultedD. structure. “of alteration”toalistedbuildinglikeourgradeII application. Consentisalegalrequirementforanywork authority insupportofourlistedbuildingconsent found helpfulinmakingourpresentationtotheplanning Lighting forHistoricBuildings,”April2007),whichwe Principles PoliciesandGuidance,April2008External advice, butreferredustotheirpublications(Conservation advice. Sadly, neitherorganisationcouldoffer specific Historic England)andtheRailwayHeritageTrust fortheir something similar. We approachedEnglishHeritage (now we soughtassistancefromthosewhomighthavefaced for Consentwiththerelevantplanningauthorities,so that othershadnotfacedtheexactsamenegotiations that ourfanlightwindowwasrareifnotuniquemeaning static coloursettingsusingtimerswitches.We wereaware Operate thelampsatnightonwarmwhiteorphased provided byD.B.Schenker, sonoongoingcosttoFoBS). the quadrantsformedbyradialtracers(powerkindly • discount negotiatedfromsupplier. lamps (30Wgivingtheequivalentof300Wpower, • Fix thelampstoplatformandaimthemalong Supply threeLED,lowenergyexternal-safeprojector formal appealindraft-that is failure. We had preparedour despite thehighlikelihoodof a “dream”worthfollowing the idea,weconsideredthis found ageneralsupportfor we canvassedrailusersand In supportoftheapplication, succeed.” application isunlikelyto the AudenshawAllotmentSociety. and havebeenworkingcloselywithrepresentativesfrom by BritishGas.We alsohadsponsorshipfromRoyalMail have recycledwashingmachinedrumsasplanterssupplied donated, astonedpathwayaroundthegarden,andwe of flowerbeds,treesandbushesthathavebeenkindly a MemorialGarden.TheGardencomprisesnumber was tojustbeaGardenbutchangedbecome the TOCNorthernStationManager. OurfirstinitialIdea Garden, ourpermissiontousethelandwasgrantedby Our StationProjecthasbeencreatedtobeaMemorial that fortheinvestmentofjust£135andasmallamount create andmaintainanarrestingnewview. We believe arrival andhelpenhancethesettingofstructureto fanlight atnightwillcontinuetoundoubtedlyenhance believe thatcarefullymanagedilluminationofthe town forover150years.Aswelooktothefuture Buxton Stationhasbeenasignificantgatewayintothe keeping themaliveandvisible. conservation oflistedbuildingsisbestsecuredby bring aboutpositivetransformation:wethinkthe and charactermaybeenhancedwhenchangeintendsto to showthatconservationisnotastaticorstagnantaffair the NationalPlanningPolicyFrameworkandLocalPolicies We thinkwesucceededbecausewereabletopointat Joy ofjoy, wesucceeded!! uniqueness toheralditasthekeyfeatureofitssetting. remarkable architecturalfeature,enhancingits proposal soughttoaddressthelostsignificanceofthis Conservation AreaAppraisaldocumentofApril2007.Our described onpage31oftheCouncil’s Buxton It isoneofthemostprominentlandmarksBuxton,so £100s!). own HeritageImpactAssessment(thesecancostseveral by doingourowntechnicaldrawings,preparing We wentaheadwiththeapplication,keepingdowncosts planning authority. how surewewerethatwouldnotbesupportedbythe Friends ofGuideBridgeStation forGuideBridgeStation Memorial Garden Second: gave abadimpressionofthestation. and replantitsincewasaconsiderable‘eyesore’ deter themthoughandtheydecidedtoclearthearea the bed.TheFriendsofBrighouseStationdidn’t letthat the useoftwoladderstoscalefenceanddescend land isenclosedonallsidesandentrytothearearequires it wasalsoatargetforlitter. Accesswasverytrickyasthe ed sycamoreinit.Becauseitwassoobviouslyuncaredfor over-grown withweeds and hadtheinevitableself-seed- This triangularpieceoflandhadbecomeheavily FoBS Memberswillcontinuetostronglydefendit. feature, outofadeeprespectfor“ourfanlightwindow,” time andeffort, wehaveaddedtothishistoricandiconic for BrighouseStationGarden Friends ofBrighouseStation Third:

17 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Small Projects Award – Under £500 18 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Best Community Engagement Event Best CommunityEngagementEvent Parish. Therewere shotsoftheday’s livestockauction, covering avery widerangeofactivitiesthroughout the farms andatthe localevents.Theentries came rollingin were clickingandflashing everywhere intown,acrossthe On theactualday, tablets,mobilephonesandcameras winning photographswere widely usedtoo. exhibition andthewinnerspresentation evening.The promoted thedayandgavegoodcoverageof Local newspapers,therailpressandwebsitesalso week beforethebigday;Wednesday, 29thJuly2015. a colourfuldisplayintowncentreshopwindow, forthe poster andrules,thetrophieswerecombinedtomake Photographs fromtheworkshopatschool,event event. PosterswereputupallovertheParish. the town’s artcentre,TheLookingWell, priortothemain Bentham CommunityPrimarySchoolandtoresidentsat Veronica Caperon,tooffer workshopstothepupilsat FOBS arrangedforalocalprofessionalphotographer, print theexhibitionphotographs. Imaging madearrangementstoreceivetheentriesand promote involvementandbuildenthusiasmBentham space inthethreemonthlyissuespriortoday, to by theprinterintown.TheBenthamNewsgaveover Posters andflyersweredesignedbyFOBSreproduced quality eventinaprofessionalmanner. awarded. Sufficientfundswerenowinplacetodelivera Development Fundwassuccessfulandamatchinggrant on behalfofFOBS,totheDesignatedCommunityRail Leeds-Morecambe CommunityRailPartnership,(LMCRP), was agreedtothevalueof£750.Anapplicationby Bowland AONB,(justtothesouthofBentham),agrant voluntary organisationassociatedtotheForestof Following discussionswithChampionBowland,a possible. months. Therulesdevelopedweremadeassimple and bothgavefreelyoftheirtimeoverthecomingfive Imaging. Theirhelpandsupportwastoproveinvaluable Bentham News,ShirleyBrownandJonBrookat To assist,FOBScalleduponarepresentativefromthe DITLOB. became affectionately knownbytheorganisersas and takeplaceon29thJuly2015.Thecompetitionsoon Parish. Itwouldbecalled‘ADayintheLifeofBentham’ of BenthamLifein2015,toaddthehistory digital photographiccompetition,tocapture theflavour tablet ormobilephoneitseemedappropriate toholda With thevastmajorityofpeopletodayhavingacamera, village ofLowBenthamandthesurrounding ruralarea. parish, encompassingthetownofHighBentham, attempt toinvolvethewholecommunityofoursmall (FOBS) tookthedecisiontocreate aproject which would In theSpringof2015,FriendsBenthamStation Friends ofBenthamStationfor‘Great ScenicRailways’campaign Sponsored byHitachiRailEurope First award. with 330ofthem castingvotesforthe‘People’s Choice’ town. Therewerewellover 400visitorstotheexhibition, August atthestudio;aprime positioninthecentreof exhibition washeldforfive daysinthelastweekof event andweremadeavailable topurchaseatcost.The turned intosoftandhardback photobookstomarkthe add totheBenthamarchives,butFinal40werealso as prizes.AllthephotographshavebeenstoredonCDto professionally framedatBenthamGallerytobepresented of thesixchosenwinningphotographs.Thesewere be exhibitedandBenthamImagingcreatedenlargements The ‘Final40’wereprintedontoFoamexboardreadyto final decisionsafteragreatafternoon’s viewing. for 2016.Ittookalittleoverfourhourstocomethe professionally produced‘BenthamandBeyond’calendar one ofthephotographswouldbechosentogoin classes. Anaddedingredienttothecompetitionwasthat third placephotographinboththeadultandjunior August, beforegoingontochooseafirstsecondand select a‘Final40’fortheexhibitionatendof the Parishonday. Thejudgesfirsttaskwasnowto from peopleofallages,includingonesvisitorsto studio, inearlyAugust,toviewanamazing250entries assembled attheBenthamImagingphotographic behalf ofACoRPandNorthernRail),LMCRPFOBS Champion Bowland,CommunityRailLancashire,(on A panelofjudgesmadeuprepresentativesfrom gesture waswarmlywelcomed. framed enlargementsforthewinningentries.This of theexhibitionfrom20to40photographsandprovide offered uptoafurther£500 fundingtodoublethesize being entered,We AreBentham,alocal groupoftraders by theeventandgreatqualityofphotographs Having seentheexcitementandenthusiasmgenerated from sunrisetosunset. ous shots,toreflecttheatmosphereinParishthatday a few. Ofcoursetherewereseriousshotsandnotsoseri- ringers, maidsmilkingandacoffee morning,tonamebut early morningbaking,younggolfersinaction,churchbell :

Station forSowerbyBridgeRailway Friends ofSowerbyBridgeRailway Pennine Express. Council andwas supportedbyNorthernRail andTrans businesses, was financedbyagrantfrom Calderdale events. other communities,asastimulustoundertakesimilar travelling case.Itisavailabletomuseums,galleriesand assembled intoaportableexhibitionwithitsownlarge talking pointtobeshared.Consequently, theyhavebeen The ‘Final40’photographsareagreatresourceand had beenwellkept. votes attheexhibitiontwoweeksbefore.Asecretwhich trophy andprizesforthephotographreceivingmost from theDfTinLondonpresented‘People’s Choice’ Bentham life.Aspartofthecelebrations,KulvinderBassi andothersfromoutsideBentham,togetatasteof opportunity fortheguestsfromacrossrailindustry FOBS fourthanniversarycelebrations.Thisgavean September 2015,thistimeatBenthamstation,duringthe The Final40photographswereagainondisplayin kindly donatedbyNorthernRail. and the‘People’s Choice’winnerreceivedrailtravelprizes, photograph albumprizes.Inadditionthetwofirstplaces received amirroredtrophy, theirframedphotographand giving ceremony, notknowingwhohadwon.Allwinners photographers andguestswereinvitedtotheprize On thethirdeveningofexhibitionFinal40 the NotsoFatControllerwasaresounding Queen Victoria, theMayor ofEastleighand Victorian themedprogramme, overseenby months ofpreparation.Theresultingvibrant historically andtoday, participatedineight wanting tocelebratelocalrailwaysboth Railway. Various localcommunitygroups, the openingofSouthamptontoNetley Station celebratingthe150thanniversaryof On Saturday5Marchover500peoplevisitedNetley Second: for NetleyStation150th Station 175Weekend Anniversary Event Joint Third: by peopleofallages,involved local Station. The175Weekend wasenjoyed the FriendsofSowerbyBridge Railway and therecentprojectscompleted by developments attheStation since1840 highlighting someofthe on thetownwhilstsimultaneously public ontheimpactrailwayhad aimed toinformandeducatethe arriving inSowerbyBridge.Theevent the 175thanniversaryofrailway October 2015andcommemorated Saturday 3rdOctobertoMonday5th The 175Weekend tookplacefrom Three RiversCRP performance. exhibition and artsound pop-up library, railway who enjoyedtheevent’s members ofthepublic research withthe200 railway memoriesand shared theirsteam through theproject, experts’, recruited bookmarks promotingtheline.Volunteer ‘heritage the linedressedasVictorians fortheday, andproduced a stationmuralwithBeanoartistNickBrennan,travelled and heritageresearch,170localschoolchildrencreated fun way. Throughescortedrailtrips,creative workshops heritage. Itengagedyoungandoldinacreative celebrating theLooeValley LineandCornwall’s railway Loop theLoop;BranchingOutwasatwodayevent to ‘ADayintheLifeofCommunityRail’project. and villagesshouldhaveago.Perhapsitmanyevenlead organised theeventwouldadvocatethatothertowns enjoyed theexperienceandthosewhowereinvolvedor captured anewsliceofthehistoryBentham.Everyone the exhibition.Itwasatalkingpointformanyweeksand created a‘buzz’onthedayofeventandthroughout brought thesmallparishofBenthamtogetherand in votingfortheirfavourite.Itwasaneventthatreally their ownphotographs,viewingtheworkofothersor appreciated byagreatmanypeople,eithertaking supporters, createdaprojectwhichwasenjoyedand photographic competition,FOBS,withtheirmanylocal In puttingtogetherthe‘ADayinLifeofBentham’ on theBenthamLine. share theresultswithvisitorstoBenthamandpassengers This isasplendidwaytoaddthispowerfulprojectand FOBS andsothepanelwillnowbecreatedinstalled. rial. Recently, additionalfundshavebecomeavailableto be printedonDibond,atoughaluminiumbondedmate- put togetherforalargepaneltogoonthefootbridge, photographs onthestationforalltosee.Adesignwas permanent wayshouldbefoundtodisplaythe Following theeventmembersofFOBSdecidedthata for Loopthe-BranchingOut! Devon & Cornwall RailPartnership Devon &Cornwall exhibition room. waiting roomandadedicatedlocalhistory through improvedgardens,arefurbished an ongoinglegacyforlocalsandpassengers together foraday, thiseventhasprovided success. Apartfrombringingthecommunity Joint Third:

19 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Best Community Engagement Event 20 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Best Marketing Campaign comments, 60shares. Pewsey” onFacebook:12,000reach,39likes,23 Chippenham. 30.07“Dayoutattheseasidebytrainfrom comments, 306shares.PromotedinSwindonand Seaside” onFacebook:36,000reach,302likes,240 have agreatexperience.26.07“Fancydayatthe which wasnotopportunetoencouragerailnewcomers resulted inthemajorityoftrainsbeingreplacedbybuses, 26th July2015.Priortothatpoint,engineeringworks The Campaignwasashort,sharpcampaigninitiatedon TransWilts brandawarenessandbuildupafollowing. Wiltshire, by edge ofTransWits andotherpublictransportationin were tobuildacustomerbaseandspreadwiderknowl- rail users,totrytheTransWilts. Secondaryobjectives this traindoesn’t normally serve,andwhoarenotregular early Augustwastoencourageresidentsofthetownsthat The objectiveofourFacebookcampaigninlateJulyand the TransWilts users. Weymouth. TheWeymouth Wizardwasquiteahitwith journey directlyfromSwindonandChippenhamto 2015, aneight-carriage,high-speedtrainmadethe possible viaaconnectionatWestbury. Inthesummerof In theSummerof2014,asingle-carriagetrainmadeit Saturday daytriptoWeymouth viatheTransWilts bytrain. In theSummerof2013,itwasn’t possibletotakea train andhaveagreat dayoutattheseaside. passengers pertrip,manyofthemnewtorail,trythe at-station advertising,weencouragedupto350 the HeartofWessex CRP, byusingsocialmediaand summer Saturdays. Working withGreat WesternRailway, replacing byourregular ajourney one-coachtrainonfour eight- coach,high-speedtrain,viatheTransWilts line, Improvement worksdivertedtheWeymouth Wizard, an TransWilts CRP&Great WesternRailway Best MarketingCampaign Sponsored byAbellio First rail tripsasaresult. day, manyofthemremarkingtheywillbemakingmore media, 10%staff orenthusiast. Customershadagreat the 23rd,estimatemovedto40%station,50%social from socialmediaand15%wereStaff orenthusiasts.By about 50%stationandNationalRailadvertising,35% Wizard. ChippenhamandSwindonjoinersresponded where thepeopletravellinghadheardofWeymouth A quicksurveytookplaceonthe1stAugustasking return. questions andhelppeoplefindtherighttrainfortheir their conspicuousTransWilts T-shirts, toanswerany team travelledoneachoftheabovedates,identifiedby on the23rditwasovercastandrained.TheTransWilts weather, which wasexcellentfromthe1sttothe15th; commenting onthequietness.Thedifference wasthe the 1st,andlocaltraderswerelookingbored Weymouth wasnoticeablyquieteronthe 23rdthanon The Results: Marketing: about20pperpassenger. feedback wherepeoplehadissues.Campaignand with notesmadeforfutureworkorconstructive All commentsandquestionswerefollowedupquickly, Wiltshire Groups. and AreaforSale”groups,relatedChippenham Chippenham. EarlyAugustFacebookpostsin“Swindon comments, 22shares.PromotedinSwindonand Swindon” onFacebook:9,100reach,74likes,19 Chippenham. 15.08“Bydirecttrainforthedayfrom comments, 30shares.PromotedinSwindonand Saturdays ...”onFacebook:7,500reach,65likes,12 Promoted inPewseyandMarlborough.09.08“August :

for TheWeymouth Wizard more than10,000parentsviewedthevideowithinafortnight. audience targetingtechniquesandanadvertisingbudgetofjust£200, using volunteersasmodelsandforthevoiceover. Thankstoinnovative from travellingbytrain.The25secondvideowasproducedin-house, highlight theenjoymentandsenseofadventurethatyoungchildrenget four socialnetworks,Facebook,Twitter, YouTube andInstagramto train, theDevon&CornwallRailPartnershipranavideocampaignon and nowadaysthatmeansonsocialmedia.To inspirefamiliestotrythe The bestwaytoforgeaconnectionwithpassengersisontheirownterms working relationship withthetrainoperating com- the ‘RailtoTrail’ banner, along withamuchcloser the beginningofanever-growing programmeunder for theBenthamLinewitha longlife-spanandmarks companies, hasbeenturned intoavaluableresource project which,withthesupport ofthetrainoperating reflects atrulycommunityapproachtomarketing This ‘RailtoTrail’ projectoftwelveself-guided walks Bentham Line Station towalksonthe for ‘RailtoTrail -12Self-Guided Rail and SkiptonRUG&Northern Leeds-Morecambe CRP, Lancaster Third: for MiniAdventurers taketheTrain RailPartnership Devon &Cornwall Second: Westbury onwardstoWeymouth onSummer relief capacityfromBristolandespeciallyTrowbridge and The purposeofthistrainistoprovideanextraserviceand and socialmedia. use ofmodernmarketingtechniques viawebsites,apps encompass bothtraditional marketing meansandthe pany. Fromthe outset theprojectwasdesignedto media campaignsucceeded. more than100passengers.Thissocial numbers oftenstruggletogetmuch even thoughonthedirectroute, with around500to550seats,bustling, objective hasbeentogetthetrain, sparsely occupiedeight-coachHST. The and then25minutesbehinditavery four- orfive-cartrainhasleftpacked train”, resultingatWestbury, wherea too manypeopleto“waitforthenice train andit’s beenhardtopersuade train hasrunshortlybehindaregular there’s notbeenengineering,the Saturdays. Inpastyearsandwhen

21 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Best Marketing Campaign

22 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Outstanding Volunteer Contribution display board, (whichheprepared)andpresenting presenting the eveningevent,includingregistration, arrangements; producingallthepaperwork and • during andafterthisparticularly challengingperiod: Here areafewexamplesof the workhecarriedout transition. also inthetransferarrangementstoensureaseamless appointment (whichresultedinnewhostingpartners)but Mike wasnotonlycentraltotheprocessof decide theHostingofPartnershipfor2014onward, 2014. Duetostaff changesandanewbiddingprocessto His commitmentwasparticularlyevidentduring2013- year. Line ensuringwedriveforwardouractionplansyearon connected withtheMedwayValley LineandtheSwalerail volunteering thathasbroughtgreatvaluetoeveryone to makeacontributionfunds.Hehasencouragedmuch all thegroupsandencouragedpartnersincludingparishes He hasworkedtirelesslytoattractwidermembershipof as alltheirevents. Rail Partnershipmeetingswhichhehelpedsetup,aswell He alsoattendsandsupportsSwaleRailLineCommunity an activepartinorganisingandpromotinglineevents. Medway Valley LineGroupsinceinceptionandhasplayed been ChairoftheKentCommunityRailPartnership Line GroupanditsDfTDesignatedstatus.Hehas Mike droveforwardtheformationofMedwayValley wise andhighlyeffective chairperson. from acrosstheindustry, businessandcommunity. Heisa he canchallengeasappropriateandbuildastrongteam well andmeetswithofficers,asksdifficultquestionsso As SteeringGroupChairMikeensureshehasprepared Commitment &dedicationtothePartnership meeting oreventandalwayspromotingthePartnership. He hasgivenofhistimeworkingtirelesslyrarelymissinga bright future. and pulledoutallthestopstoensuresustainabilitya through adifficultperiodofchange(staff &hosting) and communitygroups.MikemanagedthePartnership support frompartners,workingwithschools,parishes to adecadeofsuccess,gainingfinancialandresource a respectedleaderinthecharitysector. Hisdrivehasled humour, whilstmotivatingthosearoundhim.Heisalso Valley Line,demonstratingenergy, determinationand Steering GroupandChairoftheDesignatedMedway from inceptionoverelevenyears,Chairfirstofthe Mike hasgrowntheKentCommunityRailPartnership just whytheywantedtodoso! achievement awardtoMikeandthefollowingwillshow The judgesawardedacombinedfirstplace&lifetime Outstanding Volunteer Contribution Personally managedallthe Stakeholder Meeting Sponsored byTransPennine Express First &LifetimeAchievementAward Mike Fitzgerald-KentCRPChair&Volunteer refreshments. Bothwerehugelysuccessful. events together withtheorganisationand fundingofthe happen andhewasresponsible forthepromotionof commentary. He ‘found’themoneytomaketheseevents Train anda“Discover theMedwayValley” Train withlive • let thePartnershipdown. Blackpool. Hehadnosupportbutwasdeterminednotto material tosupporthisdeliverythosegatheredat was shortlistedandMikeproducedhisownpresentation submitting aproposalfornewPop-UpHubvision.This • information plaqueandtheprovisionofrefreshments. a programmeforthoseattendingandarrangedthe the siteonanongoingbasis.Heinvitedguests,produced local school.Henegotiatedwiththeschooltomanage Snodland Gardenwhichinvolves10partnersincludingthe • supporters. volunteer certificatesforthefirsttimetosome31 Ensured thesuccessoftwoline eventsnamelyaMusic Supported theDfTAnnualDesignatedlineseminar Put togetherthearrangementsforlaunchof volunteer. volunteers andistrulyanexcellentrolemodelforany He isalwayskeentorecognisethecommitmentofother until hisretirementthisyear. continuedtogive100%commitmentCommunityRail supports homelessandvulnerablepeoplehe worked tirelesslyforMaidstoneDayCentrewhich knowledge oftheworklocalcharities.Hehasalso As aformerMayorofMaidstone,Mikehaskeen officers. stakeholders, providingsecurityandconfidencefor new 3yearhostingcontractwiththesupportof Before retiringfromthePartnership,Mikenegotiateda coveted awardforits“SmarterTravel” initiative. entry fortheAbelliochallenge.Thedulywonthis Engagement Officer, toleadandsupportthePartnership’s In March2016,HeworkedcloselywithSarahDeakin, seamless deliverytofulfilKentCRP’s actionplan. growth andsuccessofthePartnershiptoprovidea and new, duringthisperiodoftransitiontoensurethe Mike continuedtoworkwithbothHostingpartners,old treasure forresidents. makes HandforthStationalocal passengers passingthoughand lasting impressiononallthe and creativeprojects.Thisleaves a engagement inStationart,garden resulted intheircontinued and individuals.Hishardworkhas partners, schools,clubs,societies of Handforth’s Community built lastingrelationshipswithall winning well-usedstation.He’s with closure,toamulti-award of thestationfrombeingfaced Mike hastransformedthefortunes inspiring manyothers.AsChair, bring thestationbacktolife, the firststationsupportgroupto Handforth Station20yearsagoas Mike BishopfoundedFriendsof encourage. welcomes thecommunityspiritthatstationgardens Eats andDrinks’communityrail,stationgardensshe Wrabness opengardens.It’s fairtosaythatshe‘Sleeps, promotional standinthestationgardenaspartof Street ACoRPevent.Additionally, Juliaishavinga community railevents,themetrainsandtheLiverpool and visitorstositenjoythearea.Shehelpswith the gardenandstationlookwonderfulencouraginglocals 2015. Juliaisconstantlythinkingofnewideastoensure Wrabness forover7years,andbecameanadopterinApril Julia hasbeenvolunteeringatthestationgarden Wrabness StationAdopter Second: Third: Third: MikeBishop-FriendsofHandforthStation Julia Prigg

23 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Outstanding Volunteer Contribution 24 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Outstanding Teamwork Award activity. or vocationalcommunity from participatinginsocial severe preventingthem has beenlongtermand mental healthcondition For somevolunteerstheir as anxietyordepression. mental healthissuessuch have experienced volunteers involvedwill and commitmentfromallinvolved.Themajorityof been achievedwithouttheco-operation,communication on volunteershasbeenexceptionalandcouldnothave The social,vocationalandwellbeingimpactoftheproject Exceptional Project Impact andOutcomes upon theirsocialandvocationalskillsets. their localcommunitiesandtoexplore,developbuild their mentalhealthcondition,tobecomemoreinvolvedin facing extremebarrierstocommunityparticipationdue saw thisasauniqueopportunitytoenablevolunteers By workingacrossthepublicandthirdsector, bothgroups through creativegardeningandartprojects. the greatworkbeingcarriedoutbyvolunteers/adopters journeys moreenjoyable.We areableto dothisdueto of passengerstravellingthroughthestationsmakingtheir local trainstationsandindoingsoimprovetheexperience The coreaimoftheprojecthasbeentoinvigorateour What didwewanttoachieve? Sunnyside, Wishaw, WhiffletandCoatbridgeCentral. and CCIpartnership.TheseincludeHamiltonWest, five stationsinLanarkshirehavebeenadoptedbytheNHS therapy staff andclients throughoutthisproject.To date NHS Lanarkshire’s mentalhealthandforensicoccupational CCI staff andvolunteers have workedinpartnershipwith community. the opportunitytomakeapositivecontributiontheir health issueorotherchallengingcircumstance. Theygain disability,employment, duetotheirlearning mental people facingsignificantbarrierstosocialinclusionand and socialenterprisewhosecore missionistoempower innovative andaward winninglandscapingorganisation Clydesdale CommunityInitiatives(CCI).CCIare an this project hasbeensupportedbyNHSLanarkshire and initiative setupandfundedbyScotRail.InLanarkshire The AdoptaStationProject isafantasticScotlandwide NHS Lanarkshire Occupational Therapy&MentalHealthTeams and Outstanding Teamwork Award Clydesdale CommunityInitiativesforAdoptaStationProjects Sponsored byStagecoachRail First had previouslyfoundsocialinteractionandclosecontact had asignificantimpactononeparticularvolunteerwho mosaic tilesforuseatoneofthestations.Thisactivity A groupofvolunteerswerealsoinvolvedinmaking knowledge ofhealthandsafetyprocedures. in theuseoftoolsandraisetheirawareness has enabledthemtogainpractical,handsonexperience opportunity tobuildcustommadeplantersatCCIwhich confidence. Volunteers havealsobeenprovidedwiththe skills whilstgrowingtheirsocialconnectionsand crafts activitiesenablingthemtodeveloptheirpractical planting, maintenance,drawingplans,woodworkand Across thestationsvolunteershavebeeninvolvedin Building Diverse Project Activities andStrong Relationship vital toitssuccess. partnership working,inallaspectsoftheprojecthasbeen All ofthisdemonstratesperfectlywhyexcellent station toseethecompletedwork. with membersfromthewidercommunityvisiting delivered atthestationbyteamhasbeenexceptional growing inconfidenceandself-esteem.Thework empowered themtodeveloptheirpracticalskills,whilst activity attheHamiltonWest Stationandhas for thisclientgrouptobecomeinvolvedincommunity The AdoptaStationprojecthasprovidedtheopportunity involvement insocialandvocationalopportunities. individuals recogniseaddsanadditionalbarrierto involvement inthecriminaljusticesystemwhich and vocationalactivitiesinthecommunityduetotheir service whooftenexperienceadditionalbarrierstosocial impact onindividualsintheForensicMentalHealth The projecthashadaparticularlysignificantpositive :

positive impact. of utilisingtheirownskills,talentsandabilitiestomakea their contributiontothestationsisandimportance encouraged thevolunteerstorecognisehowvaluable health andsafetyrulesprocedures.Thishas comply withemploymentetiquetteandtoadhereall role’ wheretheyarerequiredtowearhighvisibilityvests, volunteers havebeenabletoberecognisedina‘worker staff hasalsocontributedtotheproject’s successas The excellentworkingrelationshipsforgedwithScotRail college course. confidence toapply, andsuccessfullygainaplaceon developed hisITandwritingskills,givinghimthe been abletogainconfidencespeakingothersandhas has hadahugeimpactonthepersoninvolvedashe with thehelpofavolunteerinvolvedinproject.This volunteers, forexampleanewsletterhadbeencreated This projecthasalsoopenedupotheropportunitiesfor have nowsuccessfullygainedparttimeemployment. their barrierstosocialinclusionandemploymentasthey the volunteermakingprogresstowardsbreakingdown with thestationprojectthishasbeenapositivefactorin with malesextremelydifficultbutthroughengagement approach. the station transformation of a fantastic overcome, achieving successfully difficulties tobe enabled numerous and volunteershas by dedicatedstaff Great teamwork station adopters. Network Railand Partnership, Trains, DerwentValley LineCommunityRail This hasbeenaprojectbetweenEastMidlands terrace, colourfullyplantedwithover500shrubs. railway sleeperswhichhavemadeatriplelevel The newterracedsleeperbedcomprises60donated customers cannotfailtobeimpressedby. an impressiveterracedsleeperplantingbed,which banking areaonthestationapproachroad,into delivered thetransformationofanovergrown Exceptional teamworkatAmbergateStationhas overgrown area intoaterraced Midlands Trains, NetworkRail, Ambergate StationAdopters for Teamwork transformsan Derwent Valley CRP, East planting bed Second: communities inwhichtheyworkandlive. projects whichhavearealimpactontheirlocal together tocreateinnovative,dynamicandinclusive for otherpublic,privateandthirdsectorbodiestocome that thispartnershipmodelcanserveasaninspiration strengthening oftheircollaboration,anditishoped and CCIarecommittedtocontinualdevelopment NHS Lanarkshireforensicandmentalhealthteams community. skills, talentsandexperiencestheyhavetooffer thewider ticipate intheircommunitiesshowcasingthewonderful benefit toindividualswhohavebeenenabledpar improved stationsurroundingsbutalsohavebeenahuge hard todeliverprojectswhichbenefitpassengersthrough Both organsationsandvolunteershaveworkedincredibly and communityoutcomesachieved. project hasunderpinnedtheexceptionalsocial,vocational working byallthoseinvolvedinthe‘AdoptaStation’ Excellent interagencycommunicationandcollaborative on theprojectswithoccupationaltherapists CCI staff havealsothoroughlyenjoyedworkingtogether NHS Lanarkshireforensicandmentalhealthteams Bagnalls buildingcontractors. the helpofSouthWest Trains, NetworkRailand 400 hourspreparingandpaintingthebridge,with The volunteersatTemplecombe stationspentover on theSouthWest Trains West ofEnglandLine. a longtermprojecttomakethestationfocalpoint platform andgardens,inoriginalcolours,aspartof their 123yearoldfootbridgeovertothe The FriendsofTemplecombe Stationhavepainted Templecombe StationFriends, South West Trains &Partners for Jointpreservation ofthe station footbridge Third: -

25 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Outstanding Teamwork Award 26 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Passengers Matter forward withideas andwillingnesstohelp. experience. Theyimmediately came and theirdepthofknowledge and passion thegroupshadfor service, the ProjectManagerrecognised the element oftheproject.From theoutset partnerships wasafundamental Engagement withourcommunityrail local authorities. groups, alongwithrailusergroupsand cluded meetingwiththecommunityrail messaging andengagement.Thisin- CRPs toensureclear, joinedup process, GWRworkedcloselywiththe From theverystartofplanning customers. closure andingettinginformationto the alternativeservicesduringline TransWilts couldplayindeveloping Heart ofWessex, ThreeRiversand nity RailPartnershipsatSevernside, early ontherolethatfourwellestablishedCommu- campaign ofcustomercommunicationandrecognised The communicationteammanagedalargescale of theGreatWestern MainLinefor40years. from Trowbridge toBathSpastation,thelongestclosure Tunnel andconcurrentlythefour-week closureoftheline greater. None moresothanthesix-weekclosureofBox way whiletheworkiscarriedoutbecomesgreaterand £7.5 billioninvestmentthedemandstocloserail- upgrades andelectrificationacrossthenetwork.Withthis Line isseeingmajorengineeringprojects,infrastructure Network Rail’s modernisationoftheGreatWestern Main What theproject entailed diversions andextendedjourneytimes. customers whowerefacedwithaprolongedperiodof information whichwasextremelywellreceivedby conducted acampaignofawarenessanddetailedjourney four impactedcommunityrailpartnershipsthey project andcommunicationteams,alongwiththe philosophy. Co-ordinatedthroughthein-house communications campaignandacustomerservice made surecustomerscamefirstthroughaninnovative during thesummerof2015,GreatWestern Railway(GWR) route totheeastofBathwasclosedforsixweeks massive infrastructureinvestment,andwhenthekey The GreatWestern MainLineisbenefittingfroma Overview for EastofBathlineclosure communicationscampaign Sponsored byMerseyrail Passengers Matter Great WesternRailway First Weymouth linecustomers,anotheridea developedwith and backtoprovidebetterjourneyoptionsfor We alsorantwopeakbusesfromCastle CarytoBristol two carunit. carriage HighSpeedTrain wasnecessary, ratherthana we managedtoconvincetrainplanningthataneight Wessex andthroughtheirlocalknowledge andsupport Swindon eachSaturday. ThiswasahugedealforHeartof a HighSpeedTrain (HST)toWeymouth fromBristolvia Weymouth, andattheirurgingwemanaged todeliver us theneedtokeepasummerSaturdayservice 4 weeksthecommunityrailpartnershipsimpressedupon Even thoughtheBathtoTrowbridge linewasclosedfor work outwhatwecouldandnotachieve. Train planning,Traincrew managersandengineeringto taken away, reviewedwithCentralteammanagement, Ideas proposedbythecommunityrailpartnershipswere tude ofideas. Wessex CRPatMaidenNewtonwhichgeneratedamulti- stations andafullmorningsessionwiththeHeartof evening meetings,committeevolunteerdaysat with customersintheirareas.Thiswasthroughamixof communicate outinformationandhowbesttoengage input intobusandtrainplans,theyfedbackonhowto Members oftheCRPvolunteersattendedmeetingsto :

Heart ofWessex. We alsoransomepeak buses fromWarminster to /fromBathto provide betterconnectionswith Portsmouth linetrains.Allservicesthat were additionaltothebaseplanand gave ourcommunityrailcustomersa far betterservice. The partnershipsplayedacrucialpart in thepreparationoflineclosure, they wereabletoopenupchannels to localcommunitiesthrough newsletters andlocalshopstohelp get themessageout.Theyalso gave uptheirtimetovolunteerfor the MeetManagersessionsat stations, whichhelpedusgetthe message outtothecommunity and communicated atalocallevel. End result After sixweekswhichsawone of the largestengineeringprojects on the GreatWestern MainLine since with manyplaudits. closure in40yearspassedwithoutincidentandindeed that passengersreallymatteredandthelongestline them asayinthedeliveryofservice,GWRmadesure CRPs, treatingthemaspartofthesolution,andgiving reached recordhighs.Throughworkingtogetherwithits GWR offered extraservices,andcustomersawareness volunteers, harnessingtheirknowledgeandexpertise, Partnerships. ByworkingwiththeCRPsandtheir travelling onroutescoveredbyfourCommunityRail This couldhavebeenaverydifficulttimeforcustomers coverage. Positive feedbackfrompassengersandlocalmedia Amongst commuterstherewas97%awarenes. the awarenessofworksamongstpassengerswas84%. being conductedduringtheworks.Inwave3,itshowed conducted threewavesofresearchwiththelastwave Transport Focus,theindependentpassengerwatchdog, resumed asplannedonTuesday 1September2015. the HST, theworkfinishedontimeandpassengerservices Brunel andthelongestclosuresinceintroductionof destination orconnecttorailserviceselsewhere. Southampton orWinchester, soastoreachtheir passengers cantravelforaflatfareof£2.00to By showingavalidrailtickettothebusdriver, rail the adjacentBluestar1busservicehasbeenintroduced. rail users,anew“NoTrain NoWorries” ticketforuseon environment. centre tocreateaperfectadditionthestation with theSouthDownsNationalParkandlocaltourism Haslemere StationCommunityPartnershiphaveworked activity-packed town. walkers, cyclistsandtouristsonwhereisbesttogointhis visitor informationcentre,advisingthemanyhundredsof shop letatthestationandhavetransformeditintoa As partoftheirplanstheyhavetakenonaredundant neighbouring countryside. to encouragepeoplevisitthetownanditsamazing South West Trains tocreate aCommunityPartnership The townofHaslemereinSurreyhasjoinedtogetherwith for Aredundant stationfrontage shop intoaninformationpoint Nick FarthingThree Rivers CRP Haslemere StationCommunity for NoTrain -NoWorries Partnership Second: Third: inconvenience for service andreduce To improvethe for thenexttrain. be strandedwaiting rail passengerscan an hourlyservice, cancelled. Withonly Ford railstationare through Chandlers times whentrains Company, thereare efforts oftheRail Despite thebest

27 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Passengers Matter Station to Station – Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration Projects – Special Award Projects Sponsored by Great Western Railway

First: East Suffolk CRP & Partners for Multiple Events along the East Suffolk Line

The East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership wanted We booked the Southwold and Reydon Corps of to mark the Queens 90th Birthday but we were also keen Drums, a local band more used to marching in parades to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the line being than performing on trains and platforms. Their reprieved from the Beeching Axe in 1966. As both participation was important as they had a mix of anniversaries fell during June and the new community young and old members and wore military style rooms and café based at Beccles Station were almost uniforms perfect for creating a sense of occasion. The complete we felt a special day of celebration aim was for the band to visit three stations traversing incorporating all three was appropriate with the much of the route, playing a short concert at each celebration helping to launch other summer events too. station on arrival. The line has an hourly service in We also wanted to involve the station adopters and each direction so to allow travel and performance engage with diverse communities along the route. time the schedule was tight, one late train could have caused chaos!

First to begin the celebrations was the Suffolk market town of Beccles. The town’s station had been semi derelict for over fifty years however the local community worked together to refurbish the station building, providing business start-up units, meeting rooms and a new café. The café was just a shell two days before the event but with the help of CRP volunteers it opened right on cue as the band struck up. Extra tea and cake was provided free to passengers and local people on vintage china before the band boarded the train to Lowestoft.

As terminus of two lines we thought the best way to celebrate would be to hand out cake while the band played, the station staff who had even trimmed up the booking hall, joined the CRP volunteers and the We started promoting the events during the spring by Mayor Of Lowestoft in his full regalia distributing mentioning the forthcoming celebrations in media cakes, taking selfies and posing for press photos. It coverage for our new walks book and our sponsorship of was then back onboard the train as we headed south a festival rail – bus link. As the momentum built we took to Halesworth handing out more cake on the way. delivery of over 3000 feet of red, white and blue When you rely on social media and editorial coverage bunting and after securing permission and satisfying it is often difficult to ascertain just how many people safety concerns preceded to install bunting at all stations will join an event and as we arrived at Halesworth over the 49 mile route where appropriate fixings were possible. The installation of bunting gave another opportunity for media coverage with one member of the public commenting that his local station hadn’t had any since the Coronation!

After some extensive research including a few taste tests! We ordered several hundred special birthday cakes from a local company, although based upon a Victoria Sandwich they were renamed Elizabeth for the day and came specially wrapped in Union Flag branded boxes.

ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Station to Station – Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration 2016 - Station to – Queen’s ACoRP Community Rail Awards The logistics of distributing hundreds of cakes proved difficult, however after three days travelling the line installing all the bunting we managed to perfect the use of wheeled suitcases! 28 we were absolutely thrilled to find both platforms full to extended its opening hours for the day and featured capacity, the station adopter team were busy information on the history of the line. ensuring everyone was safely away from the platform edge and had even drafted in a retired policeman to On leaving Halesworth we headed south handing out ensure safe and orderly use of the barrow crossing. We’d cakes on board trains and on platforms stopping at

invited the townsfolk to join us for a ‘cuppa and a bun’ Saxmundham, Woodbridge and Ipswich Stations. On the Projects and 400 came along. Judith and her station adopters did a return journey we had just enough cakes left for the superb job and when the band struck up the station came passengers, the guard and the driver too! During our alive with community singing and both before and after travels we even managed to ensure the fun was conveyed this the local U3A Ukulele Band played along too. The via social media not an easy task in our 3G sparse county! town museum housed inside the station building The aim of our celebration was to engage the local communities served by the East Suffolk Line, we wanted to mark the Queens 90th birthday but also celebrate the reprieve of the line and support the work done by the community at Beccles and station adopters at Halesworth. With so many events being held across the country for the Queen we felt ours needed to go beyond just a cake and a photo opportunity, remind people how close the line once came to closure and show what an important transport artery it is today and find a fun way of promot- ing community rail. We were all exhausted at the end but the many happy smiling faces of all generations, the fun and laughter, sense of community spirit and the legacy of memories and lots of genuine positive media coverage meant it was worth all the effort.

Second: Third: Friends of: Hattersley; Glossop; Sarah Reeves, Three Rivers CRP Guide Bridge & Hadfield Stations for Gillingham Station POP-UP for Joint Event - A Royal Teddy Birthday Event Bear’s Birthday Party Friends of Gillingham Station hosted a successful POP-UP This was a joint community event organised by the above Birthday event at Gillingham Station to mark the 90th Friends’ groups. Designed to entertain our local birthday of HM The Queen and also the 160th year of the communities and educate them regarding green travel, ie founding of the Salisbury to Yeovil Railway Line. rail, whilst bearing in mind the special significance of our The Mayor of Gillingham opened the event which longest reigning monarch’s 90th birthday. We engaged attracted hundreds of people. with individuals, organisations and community groups who volunteered their time, services and equipment for The programme of events included music from Gillingham free to make it a huge success whilst lifting our stations’ Imperial Silver Band, a Mini pop-up Museum, model train profiles and enabling families to travel by rail, often for display, steam road engine, plant stalls, games for all and the first time. The event has also enhanced our already complimentary refreshments and celebratory birthday good relations with each other, Northern Rail, local cake. communities and other stakeholders. ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Station to Station – Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration 2016 - Station to – Queen’s ACoRP Community Rail Awards

29 30 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Overall Winner Award imaginative projectsengagingyoungpeople;throughto CRPs andvolunteershasachievedsomuch:from The collaborationbetweenGreatWestern Railway, its achieve inthissector! clearly showingwhatsustainedpartnershipworkingcan ongoing commitmenttothespiritofCommunityRail, This year’s overallwinnershavedemonstratedstrong Awarded to:Great WesternRailway, withtheirCRPsandallvolunteers! Overall WinnerAward Sponsored byACoRP in Yeovil (describedbytheDfTas“thegoldstandard and byhostingitsannualcommunityrailconference campaign formodernisingtheGreatWestern Route partnerships inplanningthecommunications By maximisingthelocalknowledgeofits redevelopment. innovative artschemesandasubstantialstation for otherstoaspire demonstrated howto Railway, has to”), GreatWestern of thecreativityand reap thefullbenefits effective partnership generated through knowledge working. Photo competition ‘TheEssenceofCommunity Rail’ This categorywas votedforonthenightby allguestsandwinnerswill bedisplayedonourwebsite Sponsored byGrand CentralRailway after3rdOctober www.acorp.uk.com

31 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2016 - Overall Winner Award We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the sponsors of the Community Rail Awards 2016

Without them this project and event could not exist

ACoRP, The Old Water Tower, Huddersfield Railway Station,

New life for local lines New life for local lines New life for local lines St George’s Square, Huddersfield HD1 1JF Community Community Community Tel: 01484 481052 Rail Awards Rail Awards Rail Awards 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 Email: 6 [email protected] Website: www.acorp.uk.com