Train Times No.59 - Winter 2010/11
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Train Times No.59 - Winter 2010/11 News, views and features from the world of Community Rail FRIGHT NIGHT! Halloween hijinx on the Mid Cheshire Line… New life for local lines 1 ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Regional Round-Up ACoRP Community Rail Awards Conference News Comprehensive Spending Review Community Rail in Scotland tt59.pdf 1 12/8/2010 2:50:07 PM In this issue… Hello and Welcome... Page 2 Hello and Welcome Hello and welcome back to Train Pages 3/6 Regional Round-Up Times! Many of our readers will Page 7/8 Community Rail Awards already be aware of circumstances Page 9 Conference News – The ‘Big Society’ since the spring edition, but for Page 10 Comprehensive Spending Review those who weren’t, here’s a brief Pages 11/13 Partnership Profile – summary. Community Rail in Scotland After the election of the new Page 14 Arrivals and Departures Coalition Government, a blanket ban was imposed on all government Page 15 Community Rail Partnerships publications and unfortunately Train Page 16 Community Rail Diary Times was included. This wasn’t as damaging as it first appeared, as it still left our staffing budget intact. However, it put us in a quandary as regards Principal Funders and funding future editions of Train Times. Whilst the production of Train On Line continued, we temporarily plugged the gap left Sponsors by Train Times with an electronic version, though we remained Association of Train Operating Companies concerned about the urgent need to communicate the growing backlog of information with our members and other key DfT Rail stakeholders. Network Rail This edition of Train Times is of necessity a little spartan Welsh Assembly Government compared with our previous editions, but at least we have one! We’ve been working hard on reducing the costs, hence you receiving one copy. In addition, to help keep print costs down, Corporate Sponsors a PDF version will also be available on the website, enabling circulation to a wider audience. We are also seeking potential Abellio sponsors for Train Times and hope to have something in place in Angel Trains Ltd time for the Spring 2011 edition. East Coast Main Line Co The Big Society is still the hot topic for the Community Rail (CR) sector and although it’s relatively unclear as to what Greater Manchester ITA the government will ultimately propose, we believe that as a Kilbride Community Rail movement, we have been doing it for 10 years or more, which Kirklees Metropolitan District Council puts us in quite a strong position. I’ve made that clear to both Lancashire County Council Theresa Villiers MP, Minister of State for Transport and Norman Baker MP, Under Secretary of State for Transport, both Merseytravel of whom support this view. To that end, we’re planning a Northern Rail conference on 11 February 2011 entitled Community Rail = Big Passenger Focus Society which I urge you all to attend. The venue is Lewes, East Sussex and we’ve been fortunate enough to get Norman Baker First TransPennine Express as our keynote speaker. * We welcome additional corporate sponsorship from the Whilst I appreciate some of you are nervous about your railway industry. Please contact our General Manager Neil positions as local authority cuts begin to bite, I assure you that Buxton if you are interested in sponsoring us. ACoRP is not taking a back seat and is working hard to estab- lish CRPs as key proponents of the Big Society – especially with the Department of Communities & Local Government, Contributors with whom we’re seeking to develop better links. But as men- tioned before, be ready to answer the simple local authority This edition of Train Times was edited by Nigel Barber ([email protected]) and designed by Philip question: “What exactly can you offer us and is it value for Jenkinson ([email protected]). money?” The answer is ‘yes’ and without much of the work that CRPs do, rural communities would be poorer for it. The Big Special thanks go to Lucy Tennyson and all of our contributors for their ongoing hard work and support. Society is a good concept but there are large gaps still to be filled and Community Rail is ideally placed to fill them! On a brighter final note, from all of us here at ACoRP, Front cover picture – Passengers travelling on Mid may I wish you season’s greetings and good fortune in the Cheshire CRP’s Halloween Special get into the coming year and thank you all for your continued help and spirit of things. support during 2010. Neil Buxton General Manager 2 tt59.pdf 2 12/8/2010 2:50:07 PM Regional Round-Up What’s going on in your neck of the woods Cambrian launches ‘TRAIN STAY SAVE’ Shotton Station officially re-opened Visitors travelling to Mid Wales by train could get a 10% Passengers using Shotton Station will reap the rewards discount on their accommodation thanks to a new of a major new refurbishment scheme. initiative launched by Mid Wales Tourism (MWT) and Forming part of the ATOC Station Travel Plans the Cambrian Railways Partnership (CRP). scheme (and the only station in Wales actually to be The new ‘TRAIN STAY SAVE’ scheme was involved), the project has been made possible thanks to partnership working from Flintshire County Council, launched at the MWT’s Marketing in Partnership Borderlands Line Steering Group, Arriva Trains Wales, Conference held at Y Plas, Machynlleth in November. Arriva North West and Wales, Taith, Network Rail and Speaking at the launch, Val Hawkins from MWT Sustrans. Improvements to the station include a depar- said: “Accommodation providers will benefit through a ture information screen in the ticket office, cycle facili- new free marketing opportunity to reach a considerable ties, improved pedestrian access between the high and number of potential customers, supporting the Mid low level platforms and Hawarden Bridge and the instal- Wales area’s sustainable tourism credentials. Discounted lation of automatic ticket vending machines. New direc- accommodation rates will also add to the attractiveness tional signs on the approach roads also make it easier for of train travel for visitors and potential visitors.” people to access the station, with an electronic passenger Attractive promotional leaflets, posters and post- Information screen showing connecting bus services cards featuring new artwork by Abersoch artist Neil S. outside the Shotton station entrance and improved Hopkins have been produced by the CRP, with the information at bus stops adjacent to the station. materials also referring to an on-line list of participating A new PLUSBUS integrated ticketing and market- establishments, which is available to view at ing leaflet, ‘Travel to Shotton,’ has also been launched, www.visitmidwales.co.uk. promoting the various travel opportunities. It is hoped that the new scheme will develop and continue to be promoted on an on-going basis, with almost 30 accommodation providers already signed up to take part. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR INFORMATION ON To qualify for the discount customers must display a valid RAIL TRAVEL IN MID WALES: TRAIN STAY SAVE rail ticket when settling their accommodation bill. Terms and conditions apply – please contact the individual accommodation National Rail Enquiries www.nationalrail.co.uk SAVE 10% AT SELECTED ACCOMMODATION provider for further information on these. Booking in advance or 08457 484950 ON THE RAILWAYS OF MID WALES is recommended and the discount is not offered in conjunction Arriva Trains Wales www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk with any other promotion. The accommodation provider’s Cambrian Railways www.thecambrianline.co.uk UNRIVALLED COUNTRY AND COASTAL VIEWS decision is final. Heart of Wales Line www.heart-of-wales.co.uk Scenic Wales by Rail www.scenicwales.co.uk DISCLAIMER PARTICIPATING ACCOMMODATION PROVIDERS AS WELL AS The Cambrian Railways Partnership and Heart of Wales Line THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN MID WALES: Forum do not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions contained in this publication, nor is any warranty www.visitmidwales.co.uk or 0870 080 3436 given to the establishments listed. The discount is afforded in agreement between the accommodation provider and guest(s). ONWARD TRAVEL FROM THE RAILWAY STATION TO THE ACCOMMODATION: Front cover artwork from an original painting by Neil S Hopkins. By public transport - see Traveline Cymru logo below By taxi - For taxi information and contact details relevant to the stations on the Cambrian network consult the information posters at the station, or in advance visit: www.traintaxi.co.uk or www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger_services/traintaxi.html By foot or bike - A detailed map is provided at every railway station of the immediate locality. Re-opening the newly refurbished Shotton Station. AM WYBODAETH AR TEITHIO AR REILFFYRDD CANOLBARTH CYMRU: Ymholiadau Rheilffyrdd Cenedlaetholwww.nationalrail.co.uk neu 08456 040500 Trenau Arriva Cymru www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk TERMAU AC AMODAU Rheilffyrdd y Cambrian www.leinycambrian.co.uk Er mwyn derbyn y disgownt mae angen i gwsmeriaid ddangos Rheilffordd Calon Cymru www.heart-of-wales.co.uk Sing-a-long-a Settle tocyn trên dilys pan yn talu am ei llety. Mae termau ac amodau Cymru Golygfaol ar y Trên www.scenicwales.co.uk ar waith a bydd angen cysylltu â’r darparwr llety priodol am DARPARWYR LLETY SY’N CYMRYD RHAN YN OGYSTAL Â ragor o wybodaeth ar rhain. Mae bwcio o flaen llaw yn cael ei PHETHAU I’W GWELD A GWNEUD: argymell ac nid yw’r disgownt yma yn cael ei gynnig ar y cyd gydag unrhyw hyrwyddiad arall. Mae penderfyniad y darparwr www.visitmidwales.co.uk neu 0870 080 3436