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Home , Cotswold Line, Heart of Wessex Line, North Downs Line, St Ives Bay Line, Tarka Line

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Community Rail 2020/21 2 3

Contents Foreword

I am delighted to pen this introduction as a great Foreword 3 believer in Community Rail. I was brought up at the and Rail Partnership 4 end of a busy, thriving branch line in the Thames Valley and served as a teenage committee member of the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership – Line 8 local Passengers’ Association campaigning for Sunday Severnside Community Rail Partnership 11 trains and other timetable improvements! South Wessex Community Rail Partnership 15 Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership 17 So, I feel I understand how Community Rail and of course announced the start of our brings people together. It builds connections tenth partnership on the route from Reading TransWilts Community Rail Partnership 20 and it helps communities to thrive. This last 12 to Basingstoke, The Brunel line. We have months have been an enormous challenge, with also made progress in transitioning the Heart Community Rail Partnership 22 volunteers unable to spend time at their stations, of Wessex CRP to the new South Wessex and the usual hustle and bustle and flurry of CRP, and there will hopefully be more good Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership 24 events and activities suspended or moved to news later this year when we jointly host the South West Wales Connected Rail Partnership online platforms. national Community Rail Awards with South 28 Western Railway in Southampton. Community Rail Network 32 Despite that, when lockdown rules allowed, it was community rail lines that were amongst GWR is delighted to be the first operator Community Rail Award Winners 33 the most resilient. These are the routes our in the UK to get a project through the new customers really valued. Not only were they “Restoring your Railway” process with services Community Cohesion Funding 39 used by essential workers, they were also now destined to return to Okehampton and the routes that took people out and about to the Dartmoor Line soon. We also have more enjoy the countryside, or the seaside, or just to new stations under construction and more expand their daily walking route. They will be under development with our various partners the routes that holidaymakers head for as we all across the network. plan for staycations and day trips this year. There have also been some very sad moments We are now on the cusp of restrictions being this year too, we have lost colleagues and lifted from the second lockdown. We need our friends and our thoughts are with all those community rail lines to be ready for that, and who have suffered a loss. It will take time to make sure that we give returning, and new to get back to full strength, and there will be customers the very best experience. This is lasting changes. However, the work you have how we will rebuild rail and how we will restart done this year, and for so many years before, the shift from car to train. Community Rail and has put us in the right place so that together our brilliant volunteers have a key role to play in we can keep connecting communities by rail. that and we are looking forward to welcoming you back into our stations, and back to planning Thank you for everything you have done, and innovative and exciting events to give customers now let’s prepare for a brighter 2021/22. the confidence to travel again.

Pandemics permitting there have been some very good moments for GWR Community Rail this year, we have welcomed new partnerships Mark Hopwood Front page: Calstock Viaduct by Howard Pratt and Stapleton Road Peace of Art Mural from South West Wales and Gloucestershire Managing Director 4 5

Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership

We bring together local authorities, GWR and others to support the counties’ branch lines. In this most challenging of years we innovated to support the local community and developed new resources ready to help re-build rail patronage.

From the very start of the pandemic, the To support local businesses during the Partnership focused on three things: pandemic we ran a series of campaigns to highlight independent retailers in rail- • Supporting our communities served destinations. With our message • Helping keep the railway front of mind of “Shop online now, then visit by train Our new-look webpages for the branch lines • Sharpening our communications when you can” we created a book trail of more than 60 local bookshops on our resources ready to help the branch lines Our other key goal during the year was To this end we embarked on a project to GreatScenicRailways.com website. We bounce back to enhance our marketing materials refresh our existing walks with updated followed this up with a vinyl trail of record ready to help re-build rail patronage instructions and new photography, as Our strong presence on social media, in shops, as well as promotions of local pasty when circumstances allowed. Our Great well as adding brand new walks in both particular Facebook where we now have shops and independent places on the Scenic Railways website plays a major counties. We developed a new, more more than 20,000 followers provided an branch lines to buy Christmas gifts. role in our digital marketing and attracts attractive and informative template excellent platform. During lockdowns, we 180,000 visitors a year in normal times. for the walks for our website and for shared rail trivia and our extremely popular When travel was permitted during We invested in the site in 2020 to improve printable downloads. ‘Pic of the Week’ feature, which regularly Summer 2020, we highlighted the both the design and content of our pages attracted thousands of likes and helped excellent station cafes along the Tarka for each line and for featured stations. We also collaborated with local YouTube keep the railway firmly in passengers’ Line, with Crossing Café In early 2021 we revamped the site’s stars ‘Cornish Walking Trails’. When minds even when they were not able reporting a slew of extra bookings, as a navigation on mobile phones, which make travel was permitted in early autumn to travel. direct result of our promotion. up 60% of our traffic, to make it even 2020 they created a 25-minute film of a journey on the and the We also shared positive rail stories such as easier to explore the site and to discover walk from Gunnislake station through the improved Newquay service introduced new day trips by train. the Danescombe Valley to Calstock. The in December 2020 which fulfilled a We also homed in on our ‘Walks from film has already been watched by more long-standing ambition of earlier trains the Railway’ as a key offering for when than 5,000 people, gaining dozens of to and from Newquay. Our social media passengers could travel again. With people positive comments. campaign, which included a Facebook having been cooped up for long periods ad targeted at Newquay residents, was and with many indoor activities either backed up with print advertisements cancelled or restricted, getting out into the in both the Cornish Guardian and the countryside has a huge appeal. Newquay Voice. Our Foodie Guide 6 7

Meanwhile in Cornwall we look forward We are also creating new interpretation to the installation of two fantastic new boards at and Gunnislake pieces of artwork at and stations to promote the range of day stations. In early 2021 we ran a trips and walks that the Tamar Valley competition to design Direction of Travel Line has to offer. And at Bere Alston signs and were thrilled when it attracted station we have secured grants from more than 75 entries. The standard was the Railway Heritage Fund and the extremely high, and the judging panel – Community Rail Development Fund to including representatives from the Rail renovate the old signalbox, which will Partnership, GWR and as be used as a base and potting shed for well as the Mayor of St Ives and local the local Scout group to help their work artist Jo Mayes – were so impressed that looking after the station planters. they decided we should create a poster of all the shortlisted entries to be displayed at stations on the line.

Our Pic of the Week feature on social media showcased great shots like this one of Calstock Viaduct by Howard Pratt.

Looking ahead, we are relishing the chance to make the re-opening of the Dartmoor Line to Okehampton a huge success. We have led on the development and design of the DartmoorLine.com project website, working closely with GWR and Network Rail, and are involved in proposals for disused rooms in Okehampton’s main station building and advising on heritage aspects of the station, including signage. Once the line re-opens we will of course A 2019 Summer Sunday service on the be throwing our full weight behind Dartmoor Line. marketing the new services. One of the winning entries in the Line art competition, by Darcy Flint. 8 9

Southeast Communities Rail Partnership – Jessie’s Seat

Jessie's Seat is a living memorial to a Some railway people and members of railwayman, Henry Wicks, who was killed the local community knew about the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership CIC (SCRP) covers eight in an accident on Leap Day 1892 near topiarised box tree that is Jessie's Seat, lines, working to connect communities to their railway across Chilworth on the North Downs Line. but not many. It is so close to the line that no-one can visit it or see it. Travellers , , Kent, , and Sussex. to and from Gatwick have seen it, always fleetingly, and this was a chance to stop and stare, and for people to hear the history.

It brought the railway ‘family’ together to commemorate and celebrate one of their own, to describe the rich history of the line to the community and to demonstrate what a strong working partnership of North Downs Line CRP, GWR and Network Rail can achieve. Two (Left - Right) Sir Peter Hendy with David new volunteers subsequently joined the Daniels and Matthew Golton. Community Rail Partnership.

We work in partnership with Southern, 2020 was a year when most things were Thameslink, GWR, SWR, Southeastern postponed – we had great plans for Rail and CrossCountry on those lines, to Ramble in the Blackwater Valley and joining up with community groups, local GWR’s Community Rail Conference was authorities, and local businesses to help due to be held at Gatwick. them achieve their objectives through the railway. Visitors to the conference would have been offered the chance to call in at Reg’s GWR’s North Downs Line runs between Garden at Farnborough North but it was Reading and Gatwick, from the Sussex not to be. border through Surrey and Hampshire into Berkshire, traversing some beautiful Just prior to the first lockdown we had countryside in the Surrey Hills and taking a great day out... in many of the old army towns between Jessie’s Seat from the cab and Reading. 10 11

Severnside Community Reg’s garden at Farnborough North – a transformation Rail Partnership

Reg was the Station Master at The garden is thriving, but the station Farnborough North for many years, living house remains empty – SCRP and the Like all other organisations, during 2020 the Severnside in the old station house on the Guildford local community would like to change that side of the track and tending to a very situation and turn it into a Community Hub Community Rail Partnership has had to rapidly adjust to change, large plot of land, some 250 x 50 yards. with permission from Network Rail. in what we do, and how we develop and deliver our activities. After his death, the land was left to his family but as they lived away it no longer Coming soon to the North Downs Line played much part in their lives – until are more opportunities for ‘Rail to Ramble’ Nevertheless, much has been achieved Farnborough Street Residents Association in the Surrey Hills and Blackwater Valley, and we have focused on supporting local (FSRA) made an approach to rent it from some new picket fencing at Chilworth communities to build back. them. Much negotiation followed and and artwork at Guildford (courtesy of We are grateful to the volunteers who eventually an agreement was reached NR, South Western Rail [SWR] and care for their adopted stations and involve which enabled FSRA to rent the land and CrossCountry [XC]). In the meantime, we’ll themselves in wider community events thence look forward to a community food be promoting a return to rail starting with and initiatives. Despite restrictions, the farm, bee hives, planters, vegetable plots the schools and hopefully an increase in number of volunteers has increased this and much more. leisure travellers. year and we are delighted to welcome During the past two years, Incredible The garden had been due to play its part an influx of students who will be creating Edible , has carefully developed the in the GWR Community Rail Conference marketing content to encourage travel. Secret Garden Food Growing project on of 2020, delegates were to be offered the We also welcomed a new station Platform 1 into a unique outdoor learning chance to visit on the way or return but adoption group for St Andrew’s Road, space with an ethos of caring, sharing sadly that wasn’t to be. providing overlap with the SevernNet and empowerment. When lockdown social enterprise. Garden Group leader Mike Knott said ‘it’s began, scheduled ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ testament to the work of local people, sessions were immediately adapted to supported by GWR, Network Rail (NR) and Early 2020 concentrate on growing produce; this SCRP, that we’ve been able to deliver so continues to be harvested and distributed much under the difficult circumstances to members of the community most in this year. need of a supply of fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs. Boxes were initially delivered We look forward to the time in 2021 directly by Avonmouth Community Centre when the garden can be formally opened and local volunteers, to the doorsteps to visitors. A ‘formal’ opening in Summer of appreciative residents. Once the 2021 is being planned, if lockdown Volunteers have been connected via Community Centre was able to re-open, restrictions permit. October 2020 welfare calls, monthly newsletters, virtual produce grown at the station became workshops and social meets. ingredients of the exceptionally tasty soup which Chef Mike makes available during certain weekday lunch times. 12 13

To encourage passengers to comply with the compulsory wearing of facemasks, we launched a set of specially designed facemasks featuring extracts from four of the iconic murals seen at stations along the – Stapleton Road by Bill Guilding, Montpelier by Silent Hobo, Redland by Dave Bain and Zoe Power and Avonmouth by Rob Wheeler. These masks are available via the Partnership’s website, with voluntary donations welcomed towards future projects.

Stapleton Gates

To help reduce the spread of Covid-19, September saw three vibrant new The wall to the left of the gates has found in the landscape around the station students returning to school in September art works unveiled at the gateway to been transformed by ‘Peace of Art’ and local area into her design, and as the were required to carry a few new Stapleton Road station. Each are the who are a collective of artists based at centrepiece a beautiful butterfly provides essential items in addition to the usual creation of ladies living in the local Baggator, a project dedicated to citizen the perfect photo opportunity for those pencil case and calculator. We were neighbourhood, spotlighting established empowerment in Easton. In line with who like to record their outings on social able to ensure those travelling by train and emerging talent in the Easton District the ethos of Baggator, their hand painted media platforms. were equipped with the resources to of the City. mural carries mandalas expressing unity, do so safely by providing special packs equality, and diversity. The group has containing two washable face masks, This has kickstarted further planned been developing their creative skills for a bottle of hand sanitizer, a copy of the improvements to an area of land between some time, but this is their first large GWR Safe Travel Pledge and safety advice the St Mark’s Road and Stapleton Road scale public commission. On the basis of from British Transport Police, Network Rail station entrances. The project is funded the superb quality of the mural it is likely and Crimestoppers Fearless Campaign. by a Bristol City Council Community to be the first of many. 500 packs were distributed to students Instructure Levy. travelling in the Partnership area. Further into the station, a shipping Imposing gates at the Stapleton container once covered in graffiti has Road entrance have been replaced received a complete make over by Anna with a bespoke design by blacksmith Higgie. The eye-catching design provides Mary Reynolds, making an attractive, sign-posting for passengers arriving welcoming arrival. Creating delicate by train to the plethora of independent mandala patterns to complement the shops, cafes and places of interest along adjacent Peace of Art mural, Mary has St Marks Road and Stapleton Road. Anna also incorporated an element of train has incorporated imagery and shapes tracks into her fun design. 14 15

Avonmouth and Severn Beach stations South Wessex Community Useful information now have the addedAbout security us benefit of DAY TRIPS FROM YOUR LOCAL STATION Rail Partnership Address: Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol BS5comprehensive 6NE The CCTV Severnside cameraCommunity Rail Partnershipcoverage. is a Department for Transport Accredited Community Rail Partnership. No car park. There is no taxi rank availableA further stage of enhancements to these We are a Community Interest (not for profit) Company, working with local communities to encourage the use of local trains, to ensure that For bus information please visit the stationsintegrated is progressing, with the SevernNet Gloucester journey planner: www.journeyplanner.travelwest.info access to local stations is easy, and to enhance these stations so they and Sustrans Rideprovide anda safe and Stride welcoming environment. project Our station improvement No toilets at this station projects are delivered with the assistance of volunteers, schools, Early last year the decision was made to wind up the Heart undertaking a feasibilityyouth groups and the study Community lookingPayback scheme. at There are no ticket facilities at this station These leaflets have been produced with support from Great Western

options for newRailway cycle Customers parking and Communities facilities. Improvement fund. of Wessex CRP. All stakeholders agreed it was logical for Step free access can be achieved to both platforms independent of the station. However step free access does not exist between platforms. For further information @severnsidecrp Severnside Community Rail Partnership Severnside CRP and TransWilts CRP to be responsible for all the on assisted travel please visit www.GWR.comOur successful partnership with the severnsidecrp Induction loop available. Impaired mobility set down Share your adventures! Severn Beach lines within their respective areas, including the relevant sections and pick up points available at PlatformCommunity 2 Payback unpaid work scheme You are here! Community Rail Up to two dogs, cats, or other smallmeant domestic animals we were able to facilitateCommunity Rail a small of the . AcAccreditedcredited Pa rPatnershiprtnership can travel for free. Dogs must be on a lead, or in a rigid 2019-202019-20 STAPLETON ROAD pet carrier. All other pets must be inPayback a pet carrier project at Nailsea and Backwell Project lead & content: Anne-Louise Perez / [email protected] Cycle parking & storage is available stationat this station. Bikesduring theDesign: autumn.Susan Taylor / [email protected] Over four weeks, can be carried on our trains free of charge. For further www.taylorandperez.com Thus was created a need to set up a new However, at the time of publication, information on travel with cycles visitovergrown www.GWR.com vegetationAll information on wasthis leaflet correcttended at time of print to, prior Bedminster CRP to cover that part of the Heart of the activity is now well under way and For any further helpful train travel informationto a local gardening group planting shrubs visit www.GWR.com Also available... Wessex Line running south of Westbury to picking up pace. The stakeholding body and bushes in SpringCheck out our other2021. guides on the GWR line! Explore the places you can reach from Bristol Parkway, Severn Beach, Patchway, Filton Abbey Wood, Weymouth. There is of course no activity representatives are largely in place, and Yate and Nailsea & Backwell. We look forward to welcoming passengers to report from this very young CRP. contact has been made with nearly all back to the railway. New promotional Yatton of the station groups in the area who It was agreed the new CRP was to be resources have been developed including previously supported the Heart of Wessex GWR Customer Service called South Wessex CRP. Bob Owen For sales and support please call 03457 000 125more ‘Days Out from your Local Station’ CRP and other groups who may have an (09:00-17:00 every day) agreed to serve as Chairman. Almost guides and walking maps designed to interest in participating. For information on assisted travel, planning your journey simultaneously the Covid pandemic and tickets visit www.GWR.com discover routes radiating from Bradford-on- Go paperless with mobile e-tickets - download the GWR app now Weston-super-Mare struck. Its consequences were of course The work to set up the Community and be more mobile. Avon, Severn Beach and Yatton stations. initially a massive reduction in services, Interest Company which will manage New ‘Days Out’ guides followed by a much more normal service, the CRP under the guidance of the which in our largely rural area has meant Community Rail Network and the quite a few “phantom” trains with very stakeholders is now under way. The few, if any passengers. At the same aim will of course be to serve, and be Several projects from across the time the activities of the station groups integrated into, the local communities Severnside region featured among the which will form the core support of the through which the Heart of Wessex shortlisted entries in the 2020 Community new CRP were at first truncated, then Line runs in and . Once Rail Awards. We are delighted that during largely discontinued entirely. All of this, the Company is up and running we the impressive online event, ‘Track Record together with priorities of stakeholder will appoint an officer to handle daily – The Soundtrack to the Severn Beach line’ representatives being elsewhere during management and set out to establish was announced winner of the Community the pandemic, has delayed the setting up ourselves and become recognised in Art Smaller Schemes category, while The of the South Wessex CRP. these communities. Secret Garden at Avonmouth Station was a runner up in the Influencing Positive Change category. The Friends of Parson Street and Yatton stations also deservedly featured in the shortlists. The Friends of Parson Street 16 17

Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership

We work in partnership with , South Western Railway and CrossCountry Trains to promote rail use to and from the 20 rail stations across the Salisbury-Romsey- Southampton area.

Since 2018 we have been part of the For many years Three Rivers Community Hampshire Community Rail Partnership Rail Partnership volunteers had been CIC, which is the umbrella organisation tidying and keeping the Romsey lower for community rail in the county. station car park area clear and tidy to improve the area’s attractiveness Our main focus with GWR concerned and security for passengers using the the staffed station at Romsey and the informal car park and the track to the unstaffed stations at Mottisfont and canal path. They had long desired the area Dunbridge and Dean, all of which are to be fully refurbished to complete our situated on the Romsey-Salisbury main work and in March 2020 GWR completed line. These stations were transferred to a jointly funded project with Test Valley the South Western Railway franchise on Borough Council Developer Contributions 1 April 2020, which makes geographic Funds and other railway investments and operational sense, but this has not monies. The project included: cutting back meant the end of our excellent working the overgrown vegetation, rebuilding relationship with GWR. the borders of the area, providing a Station new footpath and steps to the station In the run up to this transfer date we forecourt, marking out defined parking are indebted to GWR for the repainting A major part of our tasks will be to We look forward to being able to report bays and providing lighting and ticket and refurbishment work they undertook maintain and support the existing and on our first year of operation and how machines. The difference has been at these stations. Of special note are increasingly recognised single “Heart of we have developed in the next edition of amazing in improving visibility and two projects at Romsey, where a long Wessex” identity. We look forward to this Handbook. security and we are delighted that this awaited upgrade to the lower station car close co-operation with Severnside and new car park has provided additional park was completed and the volunteers’ TransWilts CRPs in this endeavour. facilities for rail users, while discouraging room on Platform 1 was redecorated. informal parking by non-station users. 18 19

The works to the Volunteers’ Room As with other CRPs, volunteer work has Over 10 years ago the Three Rivers CRP officers on planning consents and liaised were funded through the ongoing GWR been practically non-existent at stations helped set up a café in the old Porters with the Romsey Buildings Preservation CCIF programme, and saw our facilities during the COVID crisis and although we Lodge on Platform 2 and while the original Trust and other stakeholders to garner upgraded and redecorated. We use this have not been able to operate our popular owner eventually passed on the business widespread support. room as a base for the weekly litter pick rail bus link service up the beautiful to another proprietor, the latter gave up the rota, which we operate, and also as an Test Valley, we have managed to move tenancy for various reasons two years ago. The house in particular is an immense occasional meeting room. It is now a forward on a number of supporting Ever since we have been seeking ways project and a detailed funding plan much more comfortable room in which to projects at Romsey. For example, having to reopen the facility. Having completed seeking CCIF, developer contributions, work and rest! piloted the leasing of redundant railway a Heads of Terms agreement we are Community Investment Funds, Railway space elsewhere in our Partnership at working with a Southampton based café Heritage Trust inputs, Heritage Grants and Thank you GWR for these upgrades and Woolston, Netley and Swaythling, we owner who is seeking to help us set up other funding streams is being developed all you have done to improve our stations decided to have another go at utilising a community café, using ex-offenders as to help meet the costs. With a fair wind over the years! the wonderful Station Master’s House apprentices to become trained Baristas. we may be able to open a renovated at Romsey. This has been vacant for over house in the next few years. The café 20 years, if not longer, and numerous We have engaged a local architect for should be opened more quickly. attempts to revive and reuse it by local help with the projects, started working developers have not materialised for a with the local authority politicians and myriad of reasons.

Using our experience from elsewhere we GWR remains a valued Steering have entered into Heads of Terms leasing Group member of both the Three arrangements with SWR’s property agent Rivers and Hampshire Community Rail Amey TPT for both the Stationmaster’s Partnerships, and while we continue to House and the stand alone Porter’s promote their services across the area Lodge, which used to operate as an in general, we have recently concluded Volunteers at work clearing the old lower independent café. These are ambitious discussions to develop a further CRP station car park, Romsey to keep it tidy ideas, but ones which we believe will between Reading and Basingstoke. This before GWR investment. work, where others have floundered. will be GWR’s 10th CRP and we are delighted to be able to help promote Our proposals for the Station Master’s this line in partnership from mid March House involve the creation of a 2021 onwards, covering the stations community meeting room or two, hot of Reading, Reading West, Reading desking facilities for other community Green Park, Mortimer, Bramley and groups and a base for the Romsey Basingstoke. While we are progressing Men’s Sheds Group. with the working title of The Brunel Line as a nod to this particular railway’s By leasing the property on a peppercorn builder, we will be working with rent for the duration of the current Partners to see if there is a more fitting franchise and direct award, thanks to local name that can be used. Watch this SWR, we will be avoiding the issues of space for news about our exciting plans The Brunel Line The finished revamp. commercial gain and development which and projects for this line in 2022. have always held back long term plans. 20 21

TransWilts Community Rail Partnership

Despite the challenges of 2020, the TransWilts CIC has been busy progressing two large projects which are already providing benefits and will reap more in the coming year.

At Westbury Station a disused office brought in to rectify it. This involved night Melksham Hub Cafe on Platform 1 has been turned into working to enable the concrete to be a meeting room for use by the TW’s brought in via the lifts at a time when the Meanwhile at Melksham, TransWilts has Work will continue in 2021 to provide an Community Rail Officer (CRO) and other station was not busy with passengers. negotiated a lease to take over land around outside seating area, more vehicle charging community groups. Grants from the the station to provide a much enlarged points and a cycle hire facility. The station Now named the White Horse Room, a Community Rail Network and GWR car park and allowed the converting of a has also benefitted from sponsorship from small kitchen area and coffee machine enabled the refurbishment to be done disused building into a community café. local employer Knorr-Bremse. have been installed at one end. The to a high standard. The stained glass The car park was laid out throughout remainder can be configured as a large windows were expertly restored and the the summer and autumn and includes As the country entered lockdown TransWilts meeting space or, by utilising a sliding internal layout reconfigured. On starting charging points for electronic vehicles. A stepped up to provide online activities for screen, section off the CRO’s area and the work it was discovered the floor – competitively priced parking tariff has been children who could no longer go to school, allow a smaller gathering to take place in dating from Victorian times – was not introduced with any profits being ploughed which were well received. the other half. level and gallons of concrete had to be back into the facilities. On the tracks, in common with all other Towards the end of 2020 the café kitchen areas, passenger numbers dived on the was fitted out. The building will also TransWilts as the pandemic took hold provide toilet facilities and a waiting area but not as far as many other local lines. for passengers. Volunteers and staff are Service reliability was hit by virus related being recruited and it is hoped the first staff shortages at times. Overrunning customers will be served by early summer. engineering work also hit the service in the As well as providing hot food and drinks for late summer but enabled the TransWilts, passengers, it will also provide a welcome GWR and Network Rail to draw up improved lunchtime venue for workers at the local lines of communication. This has already businesses around the station. proved its worth when staff shortages were flagged up to 24 hours ahead of time and enabled alternative transport to be laid on and attention drawn to it on the TransWilts website and social media.

The White Horse Room at Westbury Station 22 23

Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership

We work closely with the County’s three Train Operating Companies, the County Council, the three Rail User Groups, and the Rail Executive (WMRE).

To assist the Steering Group, we take • The StitchTrain Worcestershire was a advice from the Community Rail Network successful community activity which and liaise closely with staff from the two involved cross-stitch kits being sent Network Rail regions which cover the out across the County. You can view County. We remain keen to reach out to the tapestries of WMR’s Class 196 and other stakeholders within the County. GWR IET trains on our website along with support for the Backtrack anti- We cover 18 stations in the County, 14 trespass competition. of which are operated by West Midlands • Working with Community Rail Trains and four operated by Great Network to highlight the train lines Western Railway. In addition, there are in our area and nearby attractions on three heritage railway stations – we have Scenic Rail Britain. cordial relations with the two heritage lines which operate them. • Filming a promotional video for the Barnt Green to Redditch branch line. 2020 has been a strange year in which to This was a trial to see what will be start a partnership given that for over nine involved in creating a set of videos for months various lockdown restrictions the County’s rail lines. were in place and rail travel was actively • Producing an Annual Report and discouraged by the Government. holding a ‘virtual’ First Anniversary Nevertheless, major steps forward were celebration event. taken including: To cap this successful year, the • The creation of our web site (wcrp. Partnership was awarded Accredited org.uk) and the establishment of a Status by the Department for Transport. presence on various social media channels. Contact was maintained with We are thankful to GWR’s Community broadcasting and print media too. Rail Team who have been so supportive of our ambitions and we’re looking forward to working closely with the Team in 2021.

The StitchTrain Worcestershire 24 25

Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership

Launched in April 2020 Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership’s (GCRP) key aim is to develop an accredited, sustainable community rail partnership for Gloucestershire.

GCRP are putting the region on the access to employment and inclusion map through community engagement, expert who researched the impact public transport integration, station barriers to transport has on job seekers development activities, visitor in Gloucestershire. They engaged experiences and travel promotion. employment professionals and job seekers through interviews and Initially launched with a small team of surveys to identify the key barriers and two directors the board has grown to to develop tools and resources to be a dynamic team of five over the past used by employment professionals to Food and Farm Trails map year. We are delighted to be working empower job seekers. with a cross-cutting team to support and • Taste for Travel - three food and drink • Walking and Cycling Maps– since the connect canal and rail heritage through influence our work. maps communicating a series of success of our 2019 Canal Rail Trail pilot education, community events and We have an active and committed circular trails starting from Stroud, which attracted 700 people to explore visitor experiences with Community steering group covering 22 organisations Stonehouse, Cheltenham and Lydney rail travel and the Stroudwater canal Rail integrated into the approach. We with over 45 professionals pledging Stations were developed this year. corridor over a bank holiday weekend are currently developing trials, station support. These organisations covering Each map has been carefully designed we developed the trail in response to exhibitions, festivals and community the public, private and community to encourage locals and visitors to restriction scenarios to include walking engagement activities between Stroud, sectors ensure a rich spread in explore local places and discover local and mapping routes along the canal Stonehouse and Gloucester that support ideas, input and involvement. Our farm produce. These maps are the first corridor. This new map supports the recovery, local economic development cross-cutting activities cover the nine in a series of maps depicting visitor opportunity to get healthy and active and and sustainable tourism. stations in Gloucestershire and the experiences that support active travel to explore the broader canal corridor on • Access Maps – These maps have been communities they serve but takes a and local economic development rail, foot and bike. developed for Stroud, Stonehouse, strategic and geographical approach to through food and drink experiences. • Cotswold Canals Connected – National Cheltenham, Gloucester and Lydney, project development. We worked with the University of Lottery Heritage Fund’s decision in providing key information to help Gloucestershire’s Event Management October 2020 to grant £8.9 million to customers identify and use easy access Our Active Projects for 2020/21 include: Students who conducted market the Cotswold Canals Connected project routes from the station to their end research, customer behaviours and a means that the Stroudwater canal will destination. These contain key walking • Let’s Talk Travel - a programme mystery shopper project to test the be connected to the national inland and cycling information, accessibility designed to help build travel impact of these trails with a particular waterway network at Saul Junction guidance, public transport information, confidence and access to jobs and focus on youth engagement. in the Stroud District. The project’s and a whole host of other useful info. opportunities. We worked with an activity plan harnesses opportunities to 26 27

• Station Exhibitions – The Station montage of Ankara Fabrics explored • Developer’s Guide – This is an easy • Youth Transport Panel – We have Galleries at Stroud and Stonehouse whether traditional British iconography guide to explain how the CRP wants to an active core group of 15 young Stations run by the Stroud station’s can be used to represent a modern engage with developers, consultants people who regularly engage on the adoption group Creative Sustainability multicultural nation. and local authorities on influencing sustainable transport agenda through CIC featured two exhibitions this year. planning policy and shaping future interactive online sessions. The group • Station Travel Plans – These are “A Common Revolution” led by youth development proposals. The guide sets developed our youth transport survey integrated transport plans designed to climate action groups was launched out the way in which GCRP will be due to be launched in March 2021 set out a masterplan vision for each in March exploring two quite different liaising with public and private sector designed to identify the barriers station in Gloucestershire. Working communities’ sense of place and partners, and is supported by a number to transport for young people in with local authorities, train operators their understanding of local resources of technical tools and maps to make Gloucestershire. and other partners we are developing in the face of a climate emergency. sure we notice the major development prospectuses for each station – starting • Travel Surveys – The CRP has In December 2020 local artist Dan proposals that may affect use of rail and with Gloucester and Lydney. developed and delivered a series Guthrie launched “UJ Remix” a other public transport services. of travel surveys for completion by local community organisations, young people, and the general public right across Gloucestershire. Our comprehensive travel survey looks into the future and ask a series of detailed questions about inclusion, accessibility and integrated transport.

We would like to thank the team at the Community Rail Network and Great Western Railway for their commitment, time and funding support and we look forward to working together with you all in supporting our communities and environment to #buildbackbetter. The Developer’s Guide

Stonehouse Station Gallery 28 29

South West Wales Connected Particular achievements to date have Rail Partnership been our partnership work with Ramblers Cymru, The Heart of Wales Line and Pembrokeshire County Council. We have been especially keen to get to know 4theRegion CIC became the hosts of the new Community communities around railway stations across our network, and one of the ways Rail Partnership in March 2020, when it was agreed with we have sought to do this is by hosting a Transport for Wales to establish a CRP covering the four new kind of “Shared Vision Meeting” in counties of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Neath Port Talbot several station communities. and Swansea. Jennifer Barfoot was appointed as Community Rail Officer in June 2020 We are proud to have grown our social and immediately started working on media following organically over the last Between April and June 2020, a series and Pembrokeshire - some of which are a marketing plan to target audiences few months, and the continued growth of meetings were held with a preliminary also included in the Heart of Wales Line through social media and regional of our social audience is a key priority for Steering Group, to devise a name and a CRP which stretches from Swansea press, to officially launch South West the year ahead. Twitter is the platform new brand identity for the partnership, to Shrewsbury. Wales Connected Community Rail that receives the most post reach, and agree it’s core purpose and Partnership and subsequently raise with over 7000 tweet impressions (the strategic focus. our profile. number of users who see SWWCo posts) in February, January and December. South West Wales Connected (SWWCo) October was our most active month, with brings travellers to some of the most 14.1k tweet impressions. Partnership picturesque parts of Wales, with stunning It has been challenging at times but work, such as with Ramblers Cymru and rural and coastal destinations as well as SWWCo has managed to establish many the Shared Vision events, have played a distinctive small towns and the regional connections within our communities key part in reaching positive figures on a capital of Swansea. South West Wales and form some great working monthly basis across all of our platforms. Connected covers all the stations in partnerships throughout the region. We the four counties of Neath Port Talbot, have established a strong and visible Very early on Jennifer established a Swansea, Carmarthenshire presence online and via social media, and connection with Ramblers Cymru to through our busy programme of events curate a collection of walks that start and we have been able to connect with finish at each of our stations, to promote many diverse businesses, community the idea of “walking by rail” and where groups and regional organisations. Our possible existing routes have been used ethos is very much around community but some have been adapted and created engagement, and we want our CRP to be for our purpose and criteria (no longer as welcoming and engaging as possible than 6 miles in duration). to new members and participants.

SWWCo Steering Group 30 31

Ramblers Cymru engage with a new walking market and enable SWWCo to promote the train as a great way to enjoy a sustainable day out within our picturesque and diverse region. The walks will take families from the station on an ‘i spy’ type route around the town or village. Each walk will be very short, up to a maximum of 2 miles, and will be fully accessible, helping us to reach as many families as possible including those with young children or grandparents who may be wheelchair users.

Once lockdown is over, we intend to organise “Family Days” to take groups from Swansea and Neath Port Talbot on these guided walks in Carmarthenshire, After an exceptionally busy first as a way of meeting more community year, we feel that we have created members, encouraging people to a firm foundation for a successful explore the region as a family, and Community Rail Partnership. The Ramble and Scramble characters hopefully creating confident young rail were originally commissioned by ambassadors. We believe that our focus on involving a Ramblers Cymru to engage with a broad range of organisations - as partners different target market - families with Welcome Banners Project and collaborators - and our commitment children. Ramblers Cymru and SWWCo to being actively engaged within local The aspiration to have ‘Welcome’ had a shared vision to encourage families communities - means that we are able Banners at all (or as many as possible) Minecraft Education sessions with Milford to combine a train journey with a short to achieve far more than we could on of the stations throughout the South Comprehensive and Technocamps, walk, as a way of exploring the region our own, and we have generated a huge West Wales Connected Region arose Swansea University and getting out and about with children. amount of good will and positive word of through discussions with our Wider ‘Ramble and Scramble on the train’ is an mouth already. Steering Group members. These 6ftx2ft As part of a wider conversation regarding exciting new addition to the Ramble and (1.8x0.61 metres) mesh banners will be Milford Haven railway station Milford Haven Scramble portfolio. co-created with local people around each Comprehensive School were excited to be involved in several Minecraft Education The pilot will see Ramble and Scramble and will feature images and sessions to design Milford Haven railway featured at Llanelli, as the key station, words that celebrate the distinctiveness station. This will be an excellent way of with a map and guide to an interesting of local places, to welcome visitors and harnessing youth enthusiasm and engaging short walk taking in key features encourage a greater ‘pride of place’ with future generations. of the town. The initiative will help within local communities. 32 33

Community Rail Network Community Rail Award Winners

Since the pandemic hit, community rail has adapted, supporting We are delighted to see the community rail partnerships on our local resilience, engaging communities, volunteers and partners network growing in stature and recognition and having such a online, maintaining togetherness. positive impact on people’s lives.

The Community Rail Award winners were important at the moment. A wonderful, Celebrating Outstanding Achievement as inspiring as ever. The nominations common thread running through many in Community Rail showcased an array of initiatives by of the winners was storytelling, through community rail partnerships, station arts and creative projects, discovering friends, community stations, and railway local histories, and helping people to partners across Britain – many adapted work through thoughts, feelings, and or conceived specifically to rise to the mobility barriers. This booklet shows challenges of Covid-19. Despite the how this powerful area of work can help trials and tribulations of 2020, they’ve us better understand our communities, shown how adaptable, innovative, promote wellbeing and cohesion, create and committed everyone working and more equitable access to opportunity, volunteering in community rail is, and and enable more people to access how valuable community rail will continue sustainable travel. to be, in negotiating these difficult times, and building back better. We look forward to hearing It’s all about connecting people with of these brilliant projects and their railways and stations, creating a continuing to support our members sense of positivity and ownership, and to keep flourishing and supporting bringing people together with the railway their communities into 2021. as a focal point. That couldn’t be more

Community Rail is a growing, grass roots movement made up of community rail partnerships and rail groups across the UK. These groups help communities get the most from their railways, promoting social inclusion and sustainable travel, working alongside train operators to encourage improvements, and bring We thank each and every volunteer involved for all their stations back to life. hard work and commitment. Without them, community rail For more information visit communityrail.org.uk wouldn’t be what it is today. 34 35

Community Art Schemes What happened Results

- Renewable & Smaller The artists used the stops on the line When the first lockdown brought to divide ambient jazz music into eleven strict travel restrictions, the number of tracks, layered together with eighteen downloads of the soundtrack increased, as poems inspired by history, with themes while they couldn’t travel, people could still including urban, suburban, industrial, post- enjoy the rail journey experience from the industrial, rural, picturesque, homespun, comfort of their homes. and spectacular. The project has been praised for its The poetry was informed by a series “fabulously creative” multimedia approach, of creative writing workshops held in one that could potentially be replicated on communities along the line, identified as other lines to promote community rail and areas of restricted cultural opportunity. the arts. Participants used the sessions to share memories of the line and describe how the stations and the journey had evolved over time. The workshops fostered new connections between the people involved and their local railway, and built their confidence in writing for enjoyment.

First place

Track Record Arts and Severnside CRP for Track Record - Soundtrack to the Severn Beach Line

Concept and aims

Track Record came about due to the Supported by the Severnside Community fondness that local Bristol poets and Rail Partnership, the main aims were to musicians Eyebrow and The Spoke had celebrate the line, provide an enriched for the Severn Beach Line. They wanted travel experience for regular passengers, to fuse music with the written word and attract new visitors to the area to to create a soundtrack for the line that enjoy the lower Severn Vales. passengers could download and enjoy while making their journey. 36 37

Best Marketing or Influencing Positive Change & Communications Campaign Sustainable Development

Third place

Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership for Looe Pirate Trail Third place Everyone loves pirates, especially As well as introducing new generations children. So, what better way to entice to train travel and educating them about families to take an out-of-season train some real pirate stories, the project gave Incredible Edible Bristol, Severnside Community Rail journey to the Cornish resort of Looe than a boost to the local economy, with some with a pirate trail? businesses reporting a 20% increase Partnership and Great Western Railway for The Secret Garden in footfall over the week. The partnership at Avonmouth Station In February this year, the Devon and plans to repeat the project during school Cornwall Rail Partnership worked with holidays once Covid-19 restrictions In 2018, approximately 14,000 Bristol With funding from Great Western Railway local businesses to create a self-guided are lifted. households had occasions when they were and help from their apprentices, the treasure hunt starting at Looe Station that unable to afford sufficient food to keep project is led by Incredible Edible Bristol, took in shops and restaurants throughout themselves healthy. Many were referred to supported by Severnside Community Rail the town. Families picked up their free food bank charities and became dependent Partnership, volunteers from Network Rail, trail booklet on the train and followed on emergency food supplies. and the local Community Payback Scheme. clues to find loveable pirate window ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ sessions allow stickers at each venue. Once they’d found The Secret Garden at Avonmouth Station vulnerable people to drop in on an informal the crew the children could claim their came about when a disused platform basis, some signposted under social own treasure, a bag of chocolate coins compound was transformed by volunteers prescribing by GP and NHS services. and a sticker of their favourite pirate. into a food growing and learning scheme. The aim was to empower members of the An array of fruit and vegetables are now The trail was promoted widely on social community, of all ages and backgrounds, being produced and shared with the local media and despite the area being hit by to develop skills to grow some of their community centre, providing ingredients the high seas of Storm Dennis, it proved own food at home, thereby reducing for soup and lunch clubs. Since Covid-19, to be a swashbuckling success, with 100 dependency on charitable support produce has also been included in food children and families taking part. and maximising the health and wellbeing parcels distributed to those most in-need. benefits of growing and eating fresh produce. 38 39

It’s Your Station Community Cohesion Funding

Friends of

Yetminster is to get a new community line, encouraging rail use and notice board after applying to GWR for increasing station footfall. We look funding. The board will be displayed forward to seeing a new information in the High Street and feature board which is a real asset to the information about clubs, events, the village community. local Community Rail Partnership and the Friends of Yetminster Station Adoption Group. Yetminster and Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council is replacing Lead bronze its own notice board and applied for funding for a new community board Example alongside.

Evesham Station Garden Project This funding will support the Friends of Yetminster Station to help raise The small team at , situated on The group are adept at forging awareness of the Heart of Wessex the between Worcester partnerships with local businesses, New community notice board and Oxford, have been working on the with two garden centres supplying station garden and platforms since 2014. plants either free or at discount price, In that time, they have transformed what and residents also donating plants and was an overgrown and neglected area equipment. Water butts have also been Active and In Touch (A&IT) into one that is now hugely appreciated obtained from a local food manufacturer by visitors, passengers, and railway staff. to collect rainwater and reduce the need Active and InTouch is a charity which aims They offer befriending support to anyone for mains water. More than 1,400 reclaimed bricks to combat isolation and loneliness. They who feels isolated or out of touch with uncovered on the site have been used to The group have put up notice boards to will use Community Cohesion funding the community around them. They lay out a series of paths and to construct keep the public updated on their projects, to purchase plaques, coasters and car support around 250 people who have a number of raised beds. Extra planters and are now working with the recently stickers to provide an ongoing source of become isolated and lonely through the have also been added along the recently established Worcestershire Community income for its operation in Frome and circumstances that life has thrown at extended platforms, to provide vibrant Rail Partnership and Great Western surrounding villages. them, perhaps by caring for a partner and colourful views for passengers. To Railway to develop their activities. for years, moving to a new area, health encourage wildlife to the garden, the issues or bereavement. group have created four small ponds, including one as the central feature of one of the new flower beds. 40 41

A&IT currently have 172 volunteers who The charity also works alongside meet and spend time with those in the other groups including Shop for Me, community. Finding out their needs and which supports 35 people, and Frome interests and helping them to find their Community Drivers, which provides about own place in the community. When 150 trips a month. possible, occasional trips are organised, social gatherings are arranged on a weekly basis and these run hand-in-hand with visits to members’ homes and regular telephone calls.”

Cornwall Wildlife Trust

Cornwall Wildlife Trust wants to involved, to help reduce social promote walking links between isolation and encourage more rail Churchtown Farm Community users to visit and benefit from the Nature reserve and Saltash station, reserve’s location on the edge of as well as helping to reduce Saltash, making it an ideal place for social isolation and provide new people to escape for a bit of peace volunteering opportunities. and quiet.

The nature reserve has the mainline The project fits in well with GWR’s railway and the viaduct running objective to engage with the wider spectacularly across it and is a communities we serve, helping 20-minute walk from Saltash to deliver a sustainable future station. The reserve is an important in a socially-responsible way by place both for people and wildlife. promoting local environmental and Recognising the importance of the economic regeneration. site to local people, a group exists to enable community members to contribute to all aspects of the site’s management. We want to encourage more people to become

To find out more visit: GWR.com/communityrail 13931/04.21 www.redrocket.co.uk 13931/04.21