2 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 Winners the railindustryandlocalcommunities thatitserves. organisations whoare soimportanttosustainingthebond between look forward toanotheryearofworkingwiththeindividuals and country, butalso toencouragetheexchangeofbestpractice.We only tocelebratetheachievements ofCommunityRailacross the Community RailAwards. Thisannualeventisanopportunitynot in2014),Abellio isdelightedtosponsorthe (Overall Winner in2013and nowasthenewoperatorofScotRail As OverallWinner Abellio proud tosupportthem. success oftheoverallrailindustryinBritainandAngelTrains is doing this.CommunityRailPartnershipsare avitalelementofthe recognises theimportance oflocalpeopleandcommunitiesin have hasastrong commitment tobuildingthefuture ofrailand Angel Trains are pleasedtosupportthe2015ACoRPAwards. We Angel Trains great incommunityrailwaysandthepeopletheyserve. its supportfortheCommunityRailAwards, celebrating allthatis of allpartstheNetwork. NetworkRailisdelightedtocontinue continue toworkincollaborationwithyouallmaketheverybest Britain’s railwaysmattertopeopleandweare pleased to Network Rail ACoRP COMMUNITYRAILAWARDS 2015 WINNERS ACoRP General Manager Neil Buxton worthy winners! We congratulateALLthisyear’s very of volunteersandstaff withinoursector. highlighting thededicationandhardwork complexity oftheseprojectswhilstalso partnership andsometimeshuge You canreadabouttheinnovation, panels ofexperts. 2014/2015 asjudgedbyourindependent projects andvolunteercontributionsin and thisbooklethighlightstheverybest that isgreat intheCommunityRailworld The CommunityRailAwards celebrateall Messages from Sponsors community rail’s contribution togrowing Britain’s railways. delighted tohelp celebratetheirachievementsand torecognise communities theyservecloserand togrow together. We are in theirareas, helpingthembringtherailwaysand Community RailAwards. OurrailbusinessesworkcloselywithCRPs Arriva UKTrains isproud tobeasponsorof theACoRP Arriva UKTrains flourish. their achievementsthecommunityrailmovementwillcontinueto they serveclosertogether. Byhelpingtorecognise andpromote CRPs across Britain,bringing therailwaysandcommunities Awards. Ourinter-city andregional servicesconnecttomany CrossCountry isdelighted to besupportingthe2015ACoRP Cross Country wish everyonethebestofluck. patch andtobeaproud sponsor oftheawards againthisyear. We We are delightedtoseetheCommunityRailAwards returntoour passenger numbersunderlinesallthehard workthatgoeson. their localrailwayandtheresultant record breaking growth in us closelytowhatourcustomersandsupportersreally wantfrom has alwaysbeenahugesupporterofCommunityRail,itconnects share ofthe‘Three Rivers’linesandtherolling hills.GWR Wiltshire scenic ‘HeartofWessex’Beachroute, line,theurbanSevern a Branches;thehighly allthefamousDevonandCornwall With GWR rail world. winners toshare thosegoodideaswiththe rest ofthecommunity quality entries,toexcitingandinnovative projects andforthe little willbecomeevermore important. We lookforward to high tightening financialpositionfacing manyCRPsdoingalotwith some veryexcitingprojects inthepastandwithanever small grantsfundlookedafterby ACoRP. Thisaward hasattracted low valuehighimpactschemesoften withsomehelpfrom the with alittleandCRPsare generally verygoodatcomingupwith Small Projects Award. It istruetosaythatalotcanoftenbedone Community RailLancashire isonceagaindelightedtosponsorthe Community RailLancashire important asmore people choose totravelbyrail. to furtherimprove thelocal railway, whichisbecomingevermore Awards highlighttheexcellentworkcarriedoutacross thecountry Partnerships (ACoRP)andtheirannualawards. TheCommunityRail We are delightedtosupporttheAssociationofCommunityRail First TransPennine Express highlights good communicationswhichthe‘BestMarketingCampaign’award contribution totherailway. RailMediastrivesto pushthevalueof recognising themanypeoplewhomakeadynamicandselfless we are delightedtobesupportingtheCommunityRailAwards, every partoftheindustry. ACoRPisafundofsuch storiesand Rail Mediaspecialisesingoodnewsstoriesaboutrailwaysfrom Rail Media new usesfordisusedandunderutilisedstationsontheNetwork. recognise theworkdonebyvariousgroups that have found community use. We are delightedtosponsorthisaward to needs oftherailwaycanbealtered forbusiness,entertainmentor old stationbuildingsthatare nolongerdirectly relevant tothe Buildings’ Award. Ourworkaround Great Britainhasshownhow the CommunityRailAwards through the‘MostEnhancedStation The RailwayHeritageTrust ispleasedtocontinue itssponsorshipof Railway HeritageTrust luck toallthenominees. ACORP’s CommunityRailAwards in2015.We wishverybestof a difference issoimportantandweare verypleasedtosponsor Recognising theirworktoimprove localcommunitiesandmake contribution madebydedicatedandcommittedvolunteers. At GrandCentral,weunderstandandappreciate thefantastic Grand CentralRailway recognised. the valueofindividualsinsocietywhootherwisemaynotbe We are delightedtobeassociatedwiththeseawards thatcelebrate and iscommittedtoservingthecommunitiesinwhichweoperate. Merseyrail isamongthehighestperformingrailoperatorsinUK Merseyrail opportunities availabletothepeopleofcommunitiestheyserve. lifelines; togrow inboundtrafficandenhancetherangeofjourney look forward toworkingwithsupportersofthesevitaleconomic mainline stationsthatactasgatewaystoCommunityRailways.We Our high-speed PendolinoandVoyager trainsserveseveral TrainsVirgin isproud tosponsorthe2015CommunityRailAwards. Virgin Trains generations. crucial communityservicesforfuture to recognise andreward success,whilstseekingtoimprove these supporting theCommunityRailAwards. We believeitisimportant As theUK’s busiestrailfranchise,weare delightedtoonceagainbe Govia associated withtheseawards. Community RailAwards. We are therefore delightedtobe practice andcelebratingsuccessisthrough theannualACoRP We recognise thatoneofthemostpositivewayssharingbest Department forTransport isakeensupporterofcommunityrail. As thecore funderoflocalandruralservicesinEngland,the Department forTransport nominees thebestofsuccessin their projects. upon manyrailcommunitiesinthe future. Fornow, wewishall shortly inCountyDurham,wehope thatourproducts will touch country. Asatrain manufacturer withour train factoryopening Awards, highlighting theimportanceoflocalrailwaysacross the Hitachi RailEurope isproud tosupportthe2015CommunityRail Hitachi RailEurope success storycontinuestogofrom strength tostrength. of highlightingbestpracticetohelpensure thecommunityrail support theCommunityRailAwards. Theseawards are agreat way services andabettervalueformoneyrailway, weare delightedto brings togethertheindustry’s leaderstodriveimprovements to playing animportantpartinthissuccess.Astheorganisationwhich Britain hasarailwaytobeproud ofandcommunityrailis Rail DeliveryGroup cost-effective rolling stocksolutionsoptimisedtomeet them. ensuring thatweunderstandstakeholders’needsandprovide relationship withtheACoRPteam,whichisfundamentalto Eversholt RailGroup greatly valuesitsexcellentworking Community Railschemesandinitiativescontinuetodeliver. ranging benefitstolocaleconomiesandqualityoflifethat the phenomenalgrowth inpassengerdemandandthewider- ACoRP CommunityRailAwards. We recognise andapplaudboth Eversholt RailGroup isdelightedonceagaintobeasponsorofthe Eversholt RailGroup wish theverybestoflucktothisyear’s nominees. very worthwhilepracticalimprovements tostationfacilities.We people ontotherailnetworkandatsametimedeliversome of stationadoptersdoafantasticjobinhelpingusattractmore our passengers. TheCommunityRailPartnershipsandarmy and ourvaluedstationvolunteerstocreate abettertrainservicefor dedication andcommitmentofourCommunityRailPartnerships Awards. Theseawards are awelldeservedendorsementofthe Stagecoach isproud tosponsorthisyear’s CommunityRail Stagecoach Group volunteers oncommunityraillinesacross thenationalrailnetwork. which willcelebrateandhighlightthebestefforts ofCRPsand Photography Competitionatthe2015CommunityRailAwards, delighted tosponsorthe“EssenceofCommunityRailImage” Station AdoptersAwards andreception. We are therefore they canmakeandcelebratetheirachievementsatourannual to thecommunitiestheyserve.We knowjustwhatadifference station adopters,whohelpusmakeourstationsproud gateways addition, wehaveincreased ourextensivenetworkofwonderful and stationfacilitiesforcustomerscommunitiesalike.In Norfolk andCambridgeshire andhelpingtoimprove trainservices raising theprofile oftheCRPsacross our region inEssex,Suffolk, the communityrailapproach. Already wehaveseenthebenefits, illustratingthecommitmentofourparent company, Abellio,to train operator, toourCommunityRailPartnerships(CRPs)- have more thandoubledthefinancialsupportweprovide, asthe community railwaysbringforcommunitiesandtheirrailways.We Abellio Greater Angliaispassionateaboutthebenefitsthat Abellio GreaterAnglia entrants thebestofluck. very bestachievementsfrom across thecountry. We wishallthe recognised across theindustryandthisisanighttocelebrate continued efforts ofACoRP, thevalueofthisworkisincreasingly to connectlocalcommunitieswiththerailway. Thankstothe and eachyeartheyworktirelessly alongsidethevolunteergroups to support18communityrailpartnershipsacross ournetwork eleventh annualCommunityRailAwards. We remain veryproud RailisagaindelightedtosponsorACoRPinwhatthe Northern Northern Rail

3 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Messages from Sponsors 4 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Involving Young People not onlyinhelping themtoachievetheir qualifications does. Thegroupbenefit fromlookingafterthe station, own community, whichlooking afterthestationdefinitely unit, whichrevolvesaround makingadifference intheir Petty Poolstudentsalsoundertake aCommunityAction in thecommunityareallife situation. gives themtheopportunity to practicetheircoursework elements oftheircourseandworkatthestation weeding aplantedareaandwateringplantsareallkey Guilds Horticulturequalification. Plantingupanarea, they havegrownonfromplugaspartoftheirCity& The studentshavebeenplantingupbeddingplantsthat closer’ tolivingindependently. the accreditedcourses,helpingstudentstoget‘onestep skills isasvitaltotheirstudentssuccessanyotherof Station. PettyPoolbelievesthatthedevelopmentoflife out inthelocalcommunityforexampleatDelamere of theIndependentLivingLodgeanddevelopmanyskills Life Skillssessionsforhalfadayperweek.Theyhaveuse day servicesorhome.EveryoneatPettyPooltakespartin come straightfromschool,othersdifferent colleges, They comefromawidevarietyofbackgrounds.Some of thestudentsareagedbetween16and25yearsage. courses tostudentsfromacrossCheshireandHalton.Most Petty PoolCollegeoffers awiderangeofEntryLevel when theyaredownthere. fund). Theyhavealsotakenonemptyingthelitterbins embankment (supportedbyfundingfromtheDCRDF and diggingoveranewsectionofgardenonthe 2015 hasseenthestudentsextendinggardenareas doing moreandonthestation. 3 yearstherelationshiphasdevelopedwithstudents work situation.TheCRPweredelightedandoverthepast station gardenstoprovidetheirstudentswithareallife the stationplantingandaskediftheycouldtakeon the CRP, havinghelpedtheForestryCommissionwith College (forstudentswithlearningdifficultiesapproached Cheshire West &ChesterCouncil.In2012PettyPool Commission andhaveplantedoutplantsdonatedby the yearswithlocalprimaryschoolandForestry At DelamerestationMidCheshireCRPhaveworkedover Passengers really appreciate awell-keptstation! reduce fearofcrimeandanti-socialbehaviour. artwork andkeepingthestationcleantidycan Evidence showsthatatunstaffed stationsgardening, Stations are keygatewaysinandoutofcommunities. for ‘PettyPoolStudentsGardeningprojectatDelamereStation’ Petty PoolCollege–TheTrust andMidCheshire CRP Involving Young People Sponsored byNetworkRail First is win,winandbenefitseveryone. College andtheMidCheshireCommunityRailPartnership them forlifeaftercollege.Thepartnershipbetweenthe their lessonsandbuildsconfidencehelpingprepare Working atthestationgivesmeaningand contextto and blooming. Delamere, helpingtocareforthestation–keepingittidy artificial situationrathertheyarefullStationFriendsof difference inarealplace. Theyarenotpracticinginan involved –seeinghowtheplantstheygrowmakea gardens andplanters,thestudentsbenefitfromgetting Passengers benefitfromseeingthetidy, caredforstation their efforts makeadifference thateveryonecansee. from passengerswhileworkingthereandtheyknowthat – itbooststheirconfidencetheygetpositivefeedback community. Thestudentsenjoytheirtimeatthestation but italsogivesthemasenseofprideintheirlocal :

Padiham Green PrimarySchool, make theshortlistinTESawards. project hasalsohelpedREACHstudents the localeducationcorrespondent.The launch asuccessthroughaninterviewwith artistic challenge,thestudentsmade and stations.Aswellaslearningfromthe for DR-sizepostersdisplayinpubliccentres commitment achievedeye-catchingdesigns leisure andallaroundtheUK.Their North Staffordshire Linefortraveltowork, and inspiretheircreativitytopromotethe Our aimwastoinvolvethisdemandinggroup danger ofexclusionfromtheirhomeschools. Referral Unit,Stoke,areexcludedorat Young peopleattending REACHPupil Community RailLancashire, for ‘TheDistanceBetween’ –PadihamtoAachenfive Northern Rail,Citizens’ Northern North Staffordshire CRP, REACHPupil ReferralUnitandEast Rail &allPartners memorable days! Third: for NorthStaffordshire Line Promotion Midlands Trains Second: Lancashire, AachenandHeerlen. children producingartworknowdisplayedatstationsin They spenttimeworkingwithaclassofGermanschool children hadneverbeenoutofLancashirebefore. taking themtoAachenandHeerlen.Manyofthe As aresulttheclasstookpartinculturalexchange opening ofBurnleystation,whichtheydidingreatstyle. Lancashire milltownwereaskedtogetinvolvedinthe A classofprimaryschoolchildrenfromaformer based experience. the hoof’intoanamazingeducationalandcommunity ‘The DistanceBetween’isaprojectthatdeveloped‘on

5 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Involving Young People 6 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Community Art Schemes – Permanent Art Projects artwork hasbeen arealcommunityproject inspiredby Festival 2014byhundredsof festivalgo-er’s. The lovely tiles andwasproducedatthe BelperGoesGreenECO Derwent Valley. Itcomprises thousandsofsmallceramic Derwent setwithinthebeautiful landscapeofthe heritage byfeaturingStrutt’s NorthMill,and the River The StationMosaicwonderfully illustratesBelper’s Station. panels whichnowadorntherailingsatBelperRailway children’s paintingswerescannedandprintedontolarge C ofEPrimarySchooltoproducethepaintings. The Nursery), St.JohnsCofEPrimarySchoolandTurnditch School, MulberryBushNursery(nowLeapsandBounds Belper workedwithchildrenfromHerbertStruttPrimary Christine Gray, alocalartistandmemberof Transition located onPlatform1atBelper. paintings inspiredthedesignforimpressiveMosaic centre, localparksandplayareas. Aselectionofthe Strutt’s NorthMill,BelperRiverGardens,town schoolchildren depictlocalplacesofinterestincluding The 26colourfulandvibrantscenes,producedbylocal 2014. Belper’s successattheGreat BritishHighStreet Awards visited thetownaspartof Marcus JonesMPwhohave by PennyMordaunt MP and social mediaandbeenvisited local mediainterest, including has received alargeamount of local community. Theproject hundreds ofmembers the four localschoolsand Transition Belper workingwith project developedby culmination ofayearlong Station. Thiswasthe a permanentdisplayatBelper vibrant paintingsnowforming fantastic StationMosaicand26 representatives tounveilthe organisations andrailindustry by localstakeholders,funding school children were joined On Wednesday 10June2015 Sponsored byFirstTransPennine Express Community ArtSchemes for BelperStationMosaicandArtGallery Transition Belper (Permanent) First to everyoneinvolved.” such awonderfulplace.Congratulations andthanks town andtellvisitorshowproud wearetolivein people ofBelpertowelcome railtravellerstoour is truecommunityartcrafted bythechildrenand David George,ChairofTransition Belpersaid“This funding (includingdonatedmaterials). Belper Town Councilandvolunteerin-kind match Community RailDevelopmentFund,EastMidlandsTrains, a totalof£3,150whichwasfundedbytheDesignated Midlands Trains andNetworkRail.Theartproject cost Belper Town Council,DepartmentforTransport, East the AssociationofCommunityRailPartnerships(ACoRP), Funding towardsthisprojecthasbeenreceivedfrom and EastMidlandsTrains. from theDerwentValley LineCommunityRailPartnership artwork andstationmosaicassistedwithgreatsupport Transition Belperco-ordinatedtheproductionof Trains. frame thathadbeenbuiltbystaff fromEastMidlands painstakingly groutedthemosaicontoaspeciallybuilt by localartistChristineGray. OncecompletedChristine local childrenandproducedbypeople,facilitated :

from thisproject. working andpresentationskills research, designprocesses,team gates. Studentsdevelopedskillsin the metalornamentationof transformed fromdrawingsto history ofthecityandrailwaywere Creative designsdepictingthe together toabriefanddeadline. and technologystudentstowork challenging projectrequiredart unattractive gateway. This ideas tohelptransforman people, harnessingtheirartistic project wastoworkwithyoung Abbey Station.Theaimofthis improve theentrancetoStAlbans panels foranewgatewayto Science Academytodesignart students fromMarlborough The AbbeyLineCRPengaged Abbey LineCommunityRailPartnership,Marlborough ScienceAcademy, Christine Wilcox-BakerandFriendsofHandforthStation(FoHS)

Groundwork Hertfordshire &CampbellEngineering, for TheStAlbansAbbeyStationGateway for ‘ArtinaBox’ Second: Third: commemorates WW1. ‘Reflect’, thefirstexhibition, education andthewidercommunity. schools, specialneedsgroups, further professional artists,localartists from It isaspaceforexhibitionsby to passengersandthewidercommunity. local councils,thisnewspacebringsart Northern Rail,NetworkISSandthe by ACoRP, CommunityRailPartnership, redundant bicyclelockers.Supported It hasbeencreatedbyupcyclingtwo next toHandforthStationticketoffice. new permanentpublicexhibitionspace sculpture ’Reflect’.‘ArtinaBox’is nominated for‘ArtinaBox’andthe Handforth Station,Cheshire(FoHS)are Christine Wilcox-BakerandFriendsof

7 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Community Art Schemes – Permanent Art Projects 8 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Community Art Schemes - Renewable and smaller projects panels werefixedtoalong,blankwall. Williams didsoatCarnforthwhereanother12larger panels atOxenholmeandthetravelwriterMichael Express) in2011.ThelocalMP, Tim Farron,unveiledthe12 station (Virgin Trains) andCarnforthstation(TransPennine The initialworksofartwere“unveiled”atOxenholme in May2015. Railway afterdiscussionattheDfT’s CommunityRailDay Lakeland. ThisideahasbeenpickedupbySouthern done byalocalcompanybasedatBeethaminSouth avoidance ofdamagebytheweather. Alltheprintingwas onto aluminiumpanelsforeaseofmaintenanceand art, usingavarietyofmediums,hasbeenphoto-laminated art panelsareremovableforreplacementorrepair. The by theTrain OperatingCompaniesandtheCRPs.All organisations, includingafewpanelsthatweresponsored All thearthasbeensponsoredbylocalbusinessesor the majoritywere around 17-18yearsold. and studentsinvolvedrangedfrom 10tothemid-20sbut halfofCumbria.Theagesthepupils in thesouthern the 108 children from FlookburghCofEJuniorSchool.This was 2015 withthecompletionofamuralforCarkstationby andLakesLinestookplaceinthelatespringof Furness The culminationoftheStudentArtprojects onthe Furness &LakesLinesCRP,Furness KendalCollegeandLancaster&Morecambe th artpanelproduced byyoungpeopleforstations College for Student Art on the Furness andLakesLines,Cumbria College forStudentArtontheFurness Community ArtSchemes (Renewable andsmallerprojects) Sponsored byStagecoach First is approved. control” toensurethatonlywellexecutedandprintedart where theartistobeexhibitedalsoexercised“quality The Train OperatingCompanyresponsibleforthestation sponsorship, theavailabilityofstudents/pupilsandspace. to becarefullyconsideredandwillagaindependon stations either. Here,anyadditionalartpanelswillhave be “full”andthere’s notmuchspaceleftonFurnessLine Stations ontheLakesLinehavenowbeendeclaredto to andincluding2015whenthefinaloneswereinstalled. art panelsweresponsoredandexhibitedeveryyearup Following thesuccessoffirst24Artpanels,additional :

many ofthestudents,thiswasfirsttimethattheyhad and thenwentontoproduceworkfortheirsponsor. For produced oneverycolourfulpanelforBarrowstation College inBarrow, whohadspecialisedingraffitiart, of theirworkbeingexhibited.ThreeladsfromFurness some havegainedadditionalcommissionsasaresult university andothercollegestofurthertheirstudies Many ofthestudentartistshavenowgoneoff to Minibeast namingcompetition. their owntraintripand who thenorganised,withDCRP, launched atGatehouseSchool Minibeasts. TheTrail was a competitiontonamethe and encouragechildrentoenter produced topromotetheTrail group. 5,000leafletswere Teignmouth SurestartDad’s Primary SchoolinDawlishand parents and36childrenfromGatehouse Minibeasts fromrecycledplasticwith11 Local artistMelissaMuldoonmadethe installing Minibeastsonstationplanters. train andbrightenupstationplatformsby July 2014toencouragefamiliestrythe the “MinibeastTrail” ontheRivieraLinein Devon andCornwallRailPartnershiplaunched benefitted fromanenhancedstation. through thestationeachyear, have passengers, whomake3millionjourneys engagement andofcoursePurley of employeeengagement,youth was agreatsuccesswithmultiplebenefits wonderful pieceofartwork.Thisproject community andtheoutcomewasa aim wastoengagethelocalyouth brighten upPurleystation’s subway. The people havebenefittedfromaprojectto community rail.Inthisinstance,many Youth engagement addshugevalueto Southern RailwayforStudentsgetcreativeSouthern atPurleystation Devon and Cornwall RailPartnership Devon andCornwall for the‘MinibeastTrail’ Second: Third: the passengers,localresidentsandtourists. local, talentedyoungpeople.Ithasbeenappreciatedby local area’s beautythroughtheworksofartproducedby has beentobrightenupthestationsandcelebrate For theCRPs,resultofcommunityartprogramme in public. worked toarealcommissionandhavetheirworkseen

9 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Community Art Schemes - Renewable and smaller projects 10 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Best Station Garden and Large Floral Displays signifying thecompletionofgardenrestorationworks, A newFlyingGeesesculpturehasrecentlybeeninstalled months. station, thatsitsattheheartoftheircommunity, injust12 Express, hastransformedandenhancedthisrailway donations bylocalbusinessesandFirstTransPennine A dedicatedteamworkingwithabudgetofsmall the mostidyllicvillagesincountry. opportunity toenhanceandpromotetheresortasoneof dedicated totheircommunityandwillingtakeevery mixture ofseniorresidentsfromGrange-Over-Sands, The volunteersofGrangeinBloomaremadeupa operated byFirstTransPennine Express. Furness LinefromBarrow-in-FurnesstoLancasterandis all yearroundtourismtrade.Thestationislocatedonthe visitors everyyearandhelpstosupportaneverincreasing Over-Sands railwaystation thatbringsinthousandsof At theheartofthisthrivingvillagestandsGrange- the UK. popular resort withoneofthemostidyllicbackdrops in the smallfishingvillageofGrange-over-Sands intoa Railwaytransformed England. TheadventoftheFurness and offers oneofthemildestclimatesinNorth set betweentheLakeDistrictfellsandMorecambe Bay, The charmingEdwardian resort ofGrange-over-Sands is Best StationGarden and Large Grange inBloomvolunteers,TransPennine Express andLakes Sponsored byNorthernRail for Grange-Over-Sands station garden Floral Displays & Furness LinesCRP & Furness First sculpture toGrange’s manyattractions.” at thestation,communityhasnowaddedastunning place onSummerSundaysandtheexistingstudentart art. InadditiontothePromArtexhibitionthattakes community inGrangesupportinganddevelopinglocal gardens atGrangestationisyetanotherexampleofthe Furness andLakesLinesaid“Thenewsculptureinthe Jim Trotman, CommunityRailPartnershipOfficerforthe much sitswithintheheartofourlittlecommunity.” spirit andarecognitionthatourlittlerailwaystationvery “The completionoftheseworksshowsarealcommunity the ladyMayorofGrange-Over-Sands Tricia Thomassaid :

users andlocalpeople’ enhance thestationforrail overall aimwhichis‘to it formspartofthegroup’s the group’s volunteersand and imaginativelycreatedby haven hasbeenuniquely This wonderfulgarden Bridge RailwayStation. the FriendsofSowerby the fundraisingefforts of Fund, ACoRPandthrough Community Development the NeighbourhoodFirst developed withfundingfrom Bronte family. Ithasbeen paintings andpoemsofthe planted withflowersandshrubsmentionedinthenovels, land attheentrancetostationcarparkandhasbeen Railway Station.Itoccupiesanareaofpreviouslyderelict former AssistantClerkinChargeatSowerbyBridge The BrontegardenisnamedafterBranwellBronte,a cleaned uptheenvironmentinandaroundstation. community supportofficersandMerseyrail.Theyhave together withthecitycouncil,schools,localpolice, community spiritwithinthearea.Theyhaveworked and haveworkedveryhardtoimprovethe The OrrellParkRegenerationgroupformedin1988 The FriendsofSowerbyBridge for ‘TheBronteGarden’ Railway Station Second The Orrell ParkRegenerationGroup : for OrrellParkStationGardens

Third: other railusersandresidents. and visitthestationweeklytocleanupmeet the station.Theyhavealsosetupawildlifecorner wild andtraditionalplantsflowersthroughout have plantedanddevelopedafantasticdisplayof They adoptedOrrellParkrailwaystationin2006and

11 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Best Station Garden and Large Floral Displays 12 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Most Enhanced Station Buildings opportunity to sayamassivethankstoyou andyourteam but noleastthe friendsofthestation,may wetakethis Port RoyalBritishLegion,the NormandyVeterans, andlast “On behalfofCheshireWest &ChesterCouncil,Ellesmere the groups: Merseyrail havesincereceived thefollowingnotefrom regular basis. of EllesmerePortStationwhowillusethebuildingona Cheshire NormandyVeterans Associationandthe Friends pleased towelcomemembersfromtheBritishLegion, Following completionoftheschemewehavebeen local community. to ensurethatitismaintainedandservingausethe useful lifebacktoaredundanthistoricbuildinginorder One ofthemainobjectivesschemewastobring refurbishment. chimneys, whichfurtherenhancedtheimpactof instructed thecontractortoremoveandrebuild Working inconjunctionwithNetworkRail, Merseyrail partly duetoinappropriatepointingovertheyears. been somesignificantdegradationinthestonework, During theworkscontractordiscoveredthattherehad to provideanimprovedenvironment. waiting areaontheLiverpoolplatformhasbeenenclosed A shelterontheHelsbyplatformwasreplacedand the buildingaccessibleforall. rooms, windowsimprovedandrampsprovidedtomake interior refurbishedtobringcommunityuseredundant Trust todevelopaproposalwhichhasseenthestation Cheshire West &ChesterCouncilandthe RailwayHeritage combined thiswithcontributionsfromMerseytravel, Merseyrail obtainedNSIPfundingandsuccessfully the years. area andhadbeensubjectedtoregularvandalismover The stationisinaparticularlychallengingregeneration engineering brick. former stationhotel,were reconstructed inred the chimneystacks,whichmatchedthoseonadjacent been reused tocreate anentrancelobby. Additionally, from ashelterontheoppositeplatformappeartohave the latterpartof19 slated roofs. Thestructure wasmodifiedatsome datein sandstone withJacobean-stylegables,tallchimneysand Warrington lineatHelsby. Thebuildingisconstructedin Cheshire JunctionRailwaywhichjoinedtheChesterto branch lineconstructedbytheBirkenhead,Lancashire & Ellesmere PortStationwasopenedin1863aspartofthe Most EnhancedStationBuildings Merseyrail, MidCheshire CRPandtheFriendsofEllesmere PortStation Sponsored byRailwayHeritageTrust th centuryandcertainelements for EllesmerePortstationrestoration First thanks foryourHelpandsupport.” groups whoplantoutilisetherooms.Onceagainmany massive improvementforourcustomers/staff andallthe public teamtheseworksandfutureusewillmakea absolutely amazingandalongwiththeincorporated Building atEllesmerePort,theworkundertakenis in relationtotheImprovementworkswithinStation :

visit andaremadewelcome. station andmadeitaplace people developed theplantingin Adoption schemetheyhave Through theScotRailStation art gallery,’ ThePostingRoom’. They havealsoopenedacommunity now liveinthestationbuilding.. to thepremisesin2003andthey Liz movedherworkingtextileStudio the yardforseveralyears. restoring thestationbuildingand Whaite andLizGaffney havebeen uninhabited for35years.Graham Dalmally RailwayStationwas Southern, NetworkRailandthe Southern, for theDevelopmentof Hassocks railgroup Hassocks station Second: for TheRestorationofDalmallyRailwayStation

Graham WhaiteandLizGaffney

Third: lifts andanabundanceoflocallytendedflowers. cycle hirehubtocomplementanewstationbuilding, culminating in2015withapurpose-built,community-run upgraded facilitiesforthosewhouseHassocksstation, vision hascometogethertoprovideacoherentsetof passengers andforvisitorstothetown.Alongterm eagerness tomakeitagreatenvironmentforlocal transformed throughstrongpartnershipsandan Over thelastfewyears,acommunitystationhasbeen

13 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Most Enhanced Station Buildings - 14 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Small Projects Award - under £500 wonderful gardenwehavetoday. and usedtheirownothers’ideastocreatethe They hadaclearvisionforwhattheywantedtoachieve from FriendsoftheEarth. from nearbyDovercourtstation,localresidents,volunteers people asvolunteerstohelpout,includingtheadopter Sue andGeorgetasetaboutthistaskenrolledlocal that werehardyenoughtosurvivewithminimalwatering. ongoing gardenmaintenancetoaminimumandplants be thebestplantsandshrubsforgroundtokeep The planwastoclearthegardenanddecidewhatwould station. They alsowantedtoplantupthetubsalready atthe much more welcomingfortraintravellersandlocalsalike. up andimprove theappearanceofstationtomakeit to cleartheweedsandrubbishfrom thegarden, plantit in becomingstationadoptersatHarwich.Theiraimwas two localpeopleSueandGeorgetawhowere interested Essex &SouthSuffolk CRP(ESSCRP)wasapproached by continued toblossomandgrow overthepastyear. five weeksduringthesummerof2014.Thegarden has Harwich stationgarden hadanamazing‘makeover’in Small Projects Award -under£500 for HarwichStationGardenTransformation ‘WildernesstoWonderness’ Sponsored byCommunityRailLancashire Georgeta Busuioc&SueRobinson First the weedsatbayandbarkwasputonmembrane. garden wasclearedamembraneputdowntokeep took therubbishthemselvestolocaltip.Once rubbish; itwasclearedmethodicallyandthevolunteers mammoth taskastherewasalotofrubble,ironworkand The workstartedwithclearingthegardenwhichwasa :

willing tohelpoutatanytime. great andtherecontinuestobevolunteerswhoare adopters continuetoworktogetherkeepitlooking The gardenhasremainedlowmaintenance,the for wellunder£500. place topassbyandlookatallofthiswasachieved The gardenhasbeentransformedandisnowalovely everyone tokeepgoing. immediately thiswasarealbonusandmotivated transformed soquicklyeveryonecouldseetheresults the localresidentsassociation.Asgardenwas was involved,itagreatpartnershipthatincluded the volunteers.Itworkedbecauselocalcommunity their ‘cando’approachmotivatedthemselvesandall Georgeta weresodeterminedthatthiswouldwork hadn’t beentouchedformanyyears.However, Sueand Some peoplesaiditwasanimpossibletaskasthearea public andvolunteers. and themajorityofplantswere donatedby for thestationgarden.Therewasanamazingresponse Manningtree Standardasking peopletodonateplants and placedanarticleintheHarwich As thefundingwaslimitedadopterswerecreative 14 Alex Hynes,NorthernRailMD unveiledtheclockon HEATONS STOCKPORT’ isprintedontheclockrear. STATION STOCKPORT 1851’and‘WELCOMETOTHEFOUR The clockfacedisplays‘FRIENDSOFHEATON CHAPEL platform 2. booking hall,highabovethestairsgoingdownto wide quartzclock.Itisnowprominentlysuspendedinthe Heaton ChapelStationfundedareproductionthreefoot with whiteRomannumeralsonplatform2.Friendsof In Victorian times,therewasalargeblack-facedclock Rail forthe‘Victorian StationClock’ for GreaterManchester&Northern th November2014. FriendsofHeatonChapel Station, Transport Third: Sheerness onSeaStationandStrood. Adoptions andthesearecurrentlyprogressingat were theninspiredtosetuptheirownStation about thesuccessoftheirproject.Travel Champions Technology Collegeandthestudentsgaveatalk Garden whichhasbeenadoptedbyHolmesdale by atrainvisittoSnodlandStationCommunity travel plans,railsafety, funding,bikeclubsfollowed took partinarangeofworkshops,‘fixpuncture’, councillors, schoolteachersandlocalvolunteerswho Travel Champions.Thisattractedparish exciting Champion’ActionDay’toprovidetrainingfor Kent CommunityRailPartnershiporganisedan Kent CommunityRailPartnership for ‘ChampionActionDay’ Second:

15 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Small Projects Award - under £500

Innovation in Community Rail Second: (Not covered in any other category) Merseyrail Electrics Ltd, Cheshire West & Chester Council & Friends Sponsored by Network Rail of Ellesmere Port Station for ‘Together we can make a First: difference at this station’ Helmsdale Station CIC for the Restoration of Helmsdale Station Innovation is about new ways of working and that is what has happened at Ellesmere Port Station. Partners have come together and worked imaginatively, creatively and Helmsdale village on the Far North Line, 70 miles north practically to make things happen. The vision of Inverness, was originally established as an east coast underpinning this joint working has been – together we fishing port in the nineteenth century when crofters, can make a difference at this station. displaced by the Highland Clearances, were encouraged to seek alternative livelihoods. Since the decline of the Bureaucracy has been overcome, funding has been found, fishing industry, the community relies increasingly on barriers have been swept aside in an on-going project that tourism. The Helmsdale Station Community Interest has seen the station transformed from dead beat, dead Company (HSCIC) was established to oversee the rescue end station to thriving hub with artwork, new waiting of the redundant and derelict station building and to use room, toilet & community space, colourful gardens, Bike & it both to contribute to this tourism economy and to Go, regular bus services and taxi office. promote community benefit through station adoption and community partnership principles.

‘Station adoption and community rail partnership operations require local volunteers’ is the received wisdom. In a small, economically hard pressed community, volunteers may not be available. What then? Joint Third: Joint Third: The Helmsdale Station Project pioneers a fivefold approach to bringing a redundant station building back Kiera Cheung Leeds-Lancaster-Morecambe CRP into the life of the community. After 1) successfully hotspot), addition of internal insulation to all outer walls for The Redland Coffee Trike & Friends of Bentham Station negotiating a 50 year peppercorn rent lease, gaining and the roof, inclusion of heritage roof light fire escapes, grant funding and delivering significant building addition of a ground floor wet room to enable disabled for ‘An Innovative Local restoration, the innovative features of the Helmsdale access, decorating, fitting out and furnishing. The Severnside Community Rail Partnership encourages Approach to CCTV’ Station Project are 2) establishing that volunteers, with a social enterprise at local stations. In 2014, the Partner- wider than usual range of expertise, can be recruited 2. Recruiting a wider than usual range of volunteer skills ship welcomed Kiera Cheung and her “Coffee Trike” – nationwide; 3) showing that a fully integrated station engineers, physicists, seamstresses, carpenters, a a custom built, self-contained coffee stall – to Redland Whilst it is not a new idea to install a CCTV system building restoration can be achieved, combining conservation architect, lawyer, electrician, station on the Severn Beach Line. This innovative on a railway station, the Partnership and the Friends renovating a building for community use with reinstating environmentalist and accountant are some of the areas of project, which we think is the first of its kind in the UK Group have found an innovative and successful way of passenger benefits (a waiting room / visitor information expertise of volunteers who have assisted with the and certainly on the First Great Western patch, brings a adding a stand-alone CCTV system to the rural station point) and with restoring original platform features; project. Three working weeks have been staged. Free different approach to catering. at Bentham, with the support of all interested parties. 4) demonstrating that a redundant station building can be accommodation in Station House + day time food is the nucleus around which a local partnership benefitting provided in return for half time voluntary work. The The value-for-money system was easy to install and is ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Innovation in Community Rail ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Innovation in Community Rail ACoRP Community Rail Awards both the railway and the community crystallises; and sparse population of East Sutherland means local designed to provide additional security for 5) providing income generated by the business for volunteers are hard to find, but there is interest in passengers, visitors and volunteers, help protect maintaining and improving the station, promoting rail volunteer ‘semi-working holidays’ with free the many enhancements made around the station, travel on the Far North Line, and providing donations to accommodation provided. prevent vandalism and aid the detection of anti-social assist other local community charitable causes. behaviour. It is providing very positive results after 3. Establishing holiday accommodation in the old only three months’ operation. Further details of some of the features of this innovative Stationmaster’s house (reduced rates for those cleaning approach the waiting room and tending the station grounds) The accommodation is intended to bring additional 1. Renovating a listed building redundant for 20 years tourists to East Sutherland. Some visitors come because Helmsdale Station House is a category B listed building, of the photographic facilities. An additional discount is unused for more than 20 years which was on the Buildings given to those arriving by transport other than private at Risk Register for Scotland. It is historically significant car – the reasoning being that such people will buy more being of nineteenth century concrete construction and goods and support more services locally, so making a believed to be the only railway building in the UK greater contribution to the local economy. constructed using Charles Drake’s Patent Concrete Construction Apparatus. The restoration required replacement of rotten suspended wooden floors, installation of a radon sump (Helmsdale is a radon

16 17 18 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Best Marketing Campaign Wordpress contentmanagement systemmeansthatall • (RailAleTrail.com andTrailsFromTheTrack.com). incorporates twopreviously externalsatellitesites pages forthekeystationson alleightbranchlines,and lines (theAvocet LineandtheRivieraLine),hasdedicated • see itforthemselves. them howscenicthelinesanddestinationare–theycan photography. Usersnolongerhavetorelyon ustelling • site. users nowaccountformorethanhalfofthetrafficto devices. Thisisvitalgiventhattabletandsmartphone • revamp thesite.Itisnow: leading Falmouth-basedcreativeagencyGendallto from FirstGreatWestern, thePartnership workedwith the DesignatedCommunityRailDevelopmentFundand expectations ofmodernconsumers.Usingfundingfrom extremely tired,andwasfailingtoliveupthe market. Lastupdatedin2008,thesite’s designwas main website,aimedatatouristandlocaldaytripper The website:GreatScenicRailways.comisthePartnership’s was placedattheheartofcampaign. both onlineandofflinemeasurement and aprogrammeofsupportingmarketing, promotion linkedtotheBBC’s Poldarkseries, components: thewebsite,alaunch May to10thJune2015),hadthreemain The campaign,whichranforfiveweeks(7th branch lines. travel onDevonandCornwall’s scenic and toattractbrandnewaudiences revamped GreatScenicRailwayswebsite, Its aim?To promotethePartnership’s newly spanned bothdigitalandtraditionalmedia. that wasinnovative,eye-catchingand new realitywithamarketingcampaign Partnership wasdeterminedtoreflectthis This spring,theDevon&CornwallRail our attentionhasneverbeenmore fierce. even adecadeago–andcompetitionfor communicate inwaysthatdidn’t exist march oftechnology, wenow Times havechanged.Withtheconstant Much easierto update.Theuseofthepopular Offers lotsmorecontent.Thesiteincludestwoextra Much morevisual,withastrongemphasison “Responsive”, resizingtofitthescreensofdifferent Best MarketingCampaign Sponsored byRailMedia for ‘GreatScenicRailways’campaign Devon & Cornwall RailPartnership Devon &Cornwall

GreatScenicRailways.com First

innovative paid-foradvertisingonFacebookandTwitter. strands ofthecampaign.Onsocialmedia,wedid the Poldarkangle,wealsoranfurtherdigitalandoffline Supporting marketing(onlineandoffline):Alongside WiFi isalsoduetogoliveinthecomingdays. to promotethePoldarkmini-websiteonFGW’s onboard message forafurtherfortnight.Aninnovativecampaign FGW’s homepagefortwofulldays,andasasupporting ever, ourcampaign wasfeaturedasthemainmessageon breakthrough withFirstGreatWestern. For thefirsttime The promotionalsohelpedustoachieveabigdigital potential audienceof230,000people. up bytweetsfromVisit Cornwall andothers,reachinga own liveTwitter reportingfromtheeventwasbacked :

1 members ofourteamcannoweditandadd content tothesitewithease. Visit Poldarkcountrybytrain:A“VisitVisit also usedaspartofCommunityRailinthe Poldark countrybytrain”promotionwas London Paddington,completewithlobster City, itscentrepiecewasathemedstandat pots, barrels,andourveryownRoss We workedwithVisit Cornwalltodevelop Demelza, recruitedviaaneventsagency. filming locationsbytrain.Athousandwere a leafletexplaininghowtovisitPoldark handed outontheday, withafurther extra leafletstogivetheirfriends.Our increase itsreach,wealsoturnedthe 18,000 distributedinstationracks.To within theGreatScenicRailwayssite. leaflet’s contentsintoamini-website stand, posingforphotosandrequesting unprecedented. Peopleflockedtothe The responsefromcustomerswas

1. 2. 3. 4.

Homepage Line page (one of eight) Station page (for featured stations on each line) Smartphone version of Tarka Line page

2

3 Users alsonowstaylongeronthesite,andexploremore represents a40%increaseonthesameperiodin2014. 10,000 peopletothewebsiteinjustfiveweeks.This Results andnextsteps:Thecampaignattractedmorethan part ofthewebsiterevamp. taking advantageofnewphotographycommissionedas children’s stickers.Allartworkwasdesignedinhouse, in thelocalpressandCountryfilemagazine,even followers. Offline,weproducedstationposters,adverts of ouraudiencechosetosharepostswiththeirown chord. Oneadattractedmorethan450“Likes”,and160 This reachedmorethan72,000people,andreallystrucka Staffordshire CRPwithstation campaign, developedbyNorth ‘Make Tracks forAlsager’,adedicated station withgoodfacilities.Through welcoming, community-supported from afullyaccessibleand affording railconnections UK-wide Crewe, DerbyandStoke, direct, regularservicestoLondon, provides agreattransportresource; With under12,000residents,Alsager coverage andongoinginterest. from twostationsresultedin widespread multiple websites.Alaunch eventwithwalksled press releasesencouragedtweetsandcoverageon stations. Articlesinmagazines,newslettersand momentum withpostersontrainsandat Closer tothelaunchdatecampaigngained leaflets andpromotionaldisplaysatpublicevents. with earlypromotionsusingposters,flyers, this ninemilewaymarkedwalkingroutestarted Abbey LineTrail. Thecampaignforthelaunch of Countryside ManagementServicetocreatethe Partnership teamedupwithHertfordshire activities, theAbbeyLineCommunityRail To promotetheLineforOff-Peak leisure

4 & Hertfordshire CountrysideManagementService North Staffordshire CommunityRailPartnership, Alsager StationvolunteersandTOCpartners Abbey LineCommunityRailPartnership for ‘LaunchoftheAbbeyLineTrail’ for ‘MakeTracks forAlsager’ Second:

Third: promotion ofourbranchlines. lines usingdrones–allaspartoftheongoing engine optimisationandaerialvideosofourmostscenic future marketing.Nextstepsincludeplansforsearch advertising, wewilltakemanylessonsforwardintoour the costeffectiveness andreachofsocialmedia value ofusertestingtoidentifyandresolveproblems, Just asimportantly, welearnedahugeamount.Fromthe with aFacebookadvertisingoutlayofonly£150. jump inourfollowerbasewithinjustaweek,achieved Twitter, and130onFacebook.Thelattersignifieda75% pages. We alsorecruitedmorethan60newfollowerson 15%. footfall of728inApriloverMarch,up The projectdeliveredincreasedorigin these benefitstothelocalpopulation. campaign andpressrelease-topromote leaflet toallhouseholds,poster, web used avarietyofmedia–information sponsored byCheshireEastCouncil,we volunteers andTOCpartners,

19 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Best Marketing Campaign 20 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Outstanding Volunteer Contribution regional officeatArisaigstationwhereshehelpsarrange She isalsovolunteercaretaker/keyholderfortheHi-Trans and DVDsasaresultofhercolumn. her owncost)andhasoftenbeenaskedtoreviewbooks monthly basis,runscompetitions(sendingoutprizesat newspaper, Sonia handwrites2pagesofmaterialona A columnistfor‘Westword’, thelocalcommunity Mallaig. year, topassengers travellingfromFortWilliamto doing this.Theleafletwillbedistributedontrainsthis to thearea(60,000)andshetakesnorecompensefor the Rails’avisittoMallaig,forbenefitofvisitors Every yearSoniaproducesahandpreparedleaflet‘Off Mallaig. hanging basketswithanautomatedwateringsystemat barrel trainplanters(recycled1tonwhiskycasks)and16 year onbyaddingfeaturessuchasdoubleheaded stations asaScotRailStationAdopter, improvingthem Sonia looksafterMallaig,MorarandArisaigrailway railway project andanother. and enthusiasmbetweenone does?” Asshedivideshertime or “Howdoesshedowhat say “IwishIhadherenergy!” whom peopleinthecommunity contributor! Sheissomeoneof outstanding volunteer Cameron is?Truly sheisan How doyoudefinewhatSonia Outstanding Volunteer Contribution Sonia Cameron, Mallaig, MorarandArisaigScotRailStationAdopter Sponsored byGrandCentralRailway First steam trainandhelpstheregularScotRailservice She alsohelpsoutwashingteatowelsfortheJacobite way out. geological talkonthewayinandahistorical dons herkilt,putshairupandgivesthema Morar beach,stayonthetrainuptoMallaigandSonia anybody whodoesn’t want togetoff andpaddleat comes toMallaiganylessablepeopleonboardor asked hertoactasahostesssowhentheRoyalScotsman manager noticedthatSoniawasforevertalkingand local producewherevertheyare).Thenfromthatthe the RoyalScotsmankitchen(theyliketotakeonboard ended upsupplyingvegetablesandsaladfromhometo speaking toherincludingthechefandsheeventually because shewantedtoseeit.Graduallythecrewstarted whenever theRoyalScotsmanwouldcomethrough was onthestation she usedtomakesure an adopter. Forexample achievements forSoniaas special momentsand There havebeensome businesses to thegenerosityoflocal local areaandallthanks pens andadvdofthe filled withsalmon,mugs, with ‘MallaigGoodyBags’ that delegatesdepart and meetings,ensuring rail conferences,events and hostmanytransport/ :

crew bysendingbacklostpropertyto memorable experience! travel ontheWest HighlandLinea can’t stopdoingakinddeedtomakerailway unstoppable forcewithaheart ofgold,who Sonia (whohas2hipimplants) isan charter trains. she alsoarrangesaPipertogreetvisiting educational visitsandwemustmentionthat book launches,localschoolchildrenon transitional journeyeasyforthem.Shehosts industry officialsetc,makingtheir film crews,railenthusiastpoliticians, Sonia canbeseengreeting/hostingTVand passengers (againatherownexpense). Remount Depotplayedintheconflict. World War OneinSwaythlingandtherolethatlocal year hedecidedtoundertakeaprojectcommemorating the stationanditsplaceinhistoryofarea.Last years, hasshownconsiderableenthusiasmandcarefor Bob Painton,leadSwaythlingStationVolunteer for8 sustainability andabrightfuture. & hosting)andpulledoutall thestopstoensure Partnership throughadifficult periodofchange(staff and communitygroups.Mikemanagedthe support frompartners;workingwithschools,parishes to adecadeofsuccess,gainingfinancialandresource respected leaderinthecharitysector. Hisdrivehasled humour. Heencouragesthosearoundhimandisa Valley Linedemonstratingenergy, determinationand steering groupandchairoftheDesignatedMedway from inceptionoverelevenyears,chairfirstofthe Mike hasgrowntheKentCommunityRailPartnership Kent CRPVolunteer Mike Fitzgerald Third: Bob Painton- SwaythlingStationAdopter Second: Swaythling Station. display ofhorsethemedWorld War Oneartworkat litter pickingandmostofall,design,production volunteer groups,toundertakegardenmaintenance, children fromCantellSecondarySchoolandother weekly withexcludedandbehaviourallychallenged With considerablemanagementandeffort hehasworked

21 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Outstanding Volunteer Contribution 22 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Outstanding Teamwork Award which wouldtalk directlywiththerail Cambrian Implementation Group– sanctioned the formationofthe As aresultofthesesurveysthe Minister the World. Birmingham totherestof UKand connections atShrewsburyand main line,nottomentionimproved Cambrian Coastlineandthe better connectionsbetweenthe trips tomorepopulatedtowns,and improved convenienceforshopping access tohealthcareandeducation, late atnight.Peoplewantedbetter in tooearlythemorningorleft job seekersorcommuters;trainsgot running patternswerenotidealfor people wantedthem–existingtrains’ trains, andwhat’s more,theresponsesshowedwhy The resultsclearlyshowedahugedemandforadditional existing railusers,andnon-railusers. work paidoff withover 6,500 respondents,incorporating was unleashed,andoveratwoweekperiod,theinitial of multiplerailusergroups.InOctober2013,thesurvey collection pointsforsurveys,andthepoolingofresources volunteers acrosstheregion,arrangingpresentations, survey, awebsite,marketingcampaign,recruitmentof Welshpool Town Councilprepared aplan,involving The SARLC,withadministrativesupportfrom And, sobeganaprocessofprovidingtheproofneeded. something aboutit. the needformoreservices,Ministerpromisedtodo the outcomeofthatdiscussion.Ifgroupcouldprove issue personallywithherbutevenmoresurprisingwas delegation downtotheWelsh Government todiscussthe surprising, butmostwelcomeopportunity. Sheinviteda The Minister’s responsetoCllrWilliams’letter, provideda andrailmeetingsatWestminster.Government Transport Plan,atnumerous debatesatbothWelsh aspiration formore beingmentionedintheNational there wasnosignofanyadditionalservicesdespitethe growing senseoffrustrationaswitheachpassingyear, ThereAberystwyth andBirminghamInternational. wasa was thenfimlya‘two-hourly’servicebetween frequent servicesontheCambrianRailwayLines.This there were anyplanstocarryforward thedesire formore and Transport EdwinaHart,askingherdirectly whether to theWelshMinisterforScience,Economy Government Aberystwyth RailLiaisonCommittee(SARLC)sentaletter In 2012,CllrManselWilliams,ChairoftheShrewsbury to Outstanding Teamwork Award for‘AdditionalServiceCampaign-CambrianRailwayLines’ Sponsored byNetworkRail The CambrianImplementationGroup

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Created by Good Journey | Crewyd gan Good Journey Copyright © Good Journey 2015 | Hawlfraint © Good Journey 2015 First

connections CAMBRIAN connections service tocreateafulltwo-hourlypatternonthe Aberystwyth andShrewsbury, andoneadditional Cambrian Lines–4additionalreturnjourneysbetween in May2015,9additionalserviceswerelaunchedonthe working togetherasoneteam.Theresultofthiswasthat and lotsoftea,graduallyallthevariouspartnerswere rolling stockmovements,checkinglineconfigurations drafting timetables,samplingdiagrams,reconfiguring Over weeksandmonthsofmeetings,discussions, project onbehalfoftheMinister. remit oftaskingtheindustrywithsuchanimportant presented itself–wherearailusergroupwasgiventhe This wasthefirsttimethatsuchanopportunityhad Rail, andtheWelsh Governments’RailUnit asrequired. working inpartnershipwithArrivaTrains Wales, Network with asolutiontotheneedsof6,500+respondents, industry onherbehalf.Theobjectivewastocomeup :

CAMBRIAN

PARTNERIAETH RHEILFFYRDD Y

RAILWAYS PARTNERSHIP Cambrian Coastline.To date,loadingson these newservicesareexcellent,and Coast andAberystwythtakeuptoan connections betweentheCambrian hour lesstobemade. This smallvictoryisashiningexampleof goal toimproveandenhancethe working inpartnershipwithacommon A smallusergroup,whoinvestedina services offered byourrailresource. stamp hasbeenatthespearheadof to doin10.Andwhat’s more,thisis achieving in2yearswhatmany failed rail partnerships,keenvolunteers, not an example,proof,thatuser groups, to mentionpeoplepowerCAN work companies, Network Rail,and together with trainoperating Governments to makethingshappen. branch lineson FirstGreatWestern’s on promotion of Devon andCornwall’s scenic • to a12%increaseinpassengers. blue “fin”wasaFrenchidea, contributing • of examplesare: in LancashireandDevonjustacouple whole. Theprojectdirectlybenefitedlines not justwithintheproject,butcommunityrailas a included innovativeideasthathavebrokennewground collaboration withinthegroupofpartners.Thishas new dimensionsthankstothepositivity, rapport and on topoffulfillingthese,theprojecthastakenwhole funding fromtheEUInterregIVBNWEprogramme,but committed todeliveringspecificoutputsaspartoftheir When theybeganworkingtogetherinMay2012, project. attitude togowaybeyondtheoriginalscopeof organisations havedevelopedtherapportandcan-do Dutch andGermanrepresentativesofeightpartner teamwork acrossnationalborders.TheBritish,French, The EUCitizens’Railprojecthasdisplayedoutstanding impact ontheIsland.Abusreplacement inconvenience topassengersandthe measures neededtomitigatethe effort wentintoidentifying the least disruption.Considerable to identifydates/timesthatwouldcause island stakeholdergroupwerecarriedout Consultations, co-ordinatedthroughan to carryoutroutinemaintenanceandrepairs. During theblockade,NetworkRailtookopportunity retaining walls,weepholesanddrainagewasdug. slope andtohelpavoidabuild-upofwaterbehindthe new granularfillmaterialwasbroughtintore-gradethe top ofthebank,ninemetresdeep.Some4,000tonnes inserted fourmetresintothegroundandasecondat retaining walls,oneatthebaseofbankthathasbeen This involvedtheinstallationoftwohighlevelsteel Sandown tothevalueof£2M. blockade wasplannedtomakealastingrepairat something sustainablehadtobedone.A10week that futureweathercouldclosethelinelongtermmeant subsidence includingnearbylinesideproperties.Therisk At Sandown,poorweatherin2014ledtoalandslideand A hightechdevelopmentwas the Burnley ManchesterRoad’s soaring Network Rail,IslandLineCRP, SouthWest Trains, Vectis Southern for ‘TheIslandLine–SandownBlockadeProject’ for theEUCitizens’Railpartnershipproject All multi-nationalpartners and allpartners Second: Third: community railnowhasstrongrootsabroad. context. Equallyimportantly, thankstothis team, to bondandcontinuetheirdiscussionsinaninformal workshops, aswelleveningmealstoallowthegroup Time issetasideforindepthcollaborationand other’s stations,linesandlocalcircumstancesfirsthand. partner eachtime,haveenabledthegrouptosee joint meetingsandsitevisits,hostedbyadifferent addition toregularemailcontactandSkypesessions.The as agroupeverythreemonthsforthelastyears,in Representatives fromeachpartnerorganisationhavemet Citizens’ Railmasterclass. a two-dayinternationalstudentworkshop,knownasthe board WiFi.Thisground-breakingideawassuggestedby Infrastructure Group,IsleofWightSteamRailway. Wight BusandRailUsersGroup,IsleofStrategic Wight Council,RydeandSandownAcademys,Isleof Brown, SouthernVectis, Wightlink,Hovertravel,Isleof Line CRP, SouthWest Trains, Geoffrey Osborne,Raymond Multiple partnerswereinvolved:NetworkRail,Island normal earlierthanexpected. repairs wereplainsailingallowingservicestoreturn contractors Geoffrey OsborneandRaymondBrown,the the workofprojectteamandcommitmentour the ferry/hovercraftservicetomainland.Thanks bus servicelinkedupwithallothertransportincluding Steam RailwayatHavenstreet.Thebaserailreplacement ed toRydeandSandownAcademysplustheIsleofWight strategy wasdeveloped,withdedicatedbuslinksprovid-

23 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Outstanding Teamwork Award 24 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Passengers Matter right direction intermsofdemonstratingthe needto anticipated. This experiencehelpedsteerthe filminthe assistance wasnotasstraightforward aswehad the actualprocessofseeking outandorganisingthat the rangeofassistanceavailable was/isincrediblygood, disability, andit becameimmediatelyapparentthatwhilst journeys fromthepointofview ofsomeonewitha Partnership officerplanningandmakingsomesample Wales’ schoolsliaisonofficerandtheCambrianRailways team, madeupofArrivaTrains The projectbeganwiththecore schedule. organise apracticalshooting supporters/carers inorderto time andefforts, alongwiththeir to providetheirownpermissions, individuals takingpartwouldneed Trains andACoRP. Inaddition,those - Gobowen,NetworkRail,Virgin – Aberystwyth,DerwenCollege Transport Police,ColegCeredigion Arriva Trains Wales, British organisations: from anumberofUKwide co-operation andpracticalsupport This projectrequiredadvice, railway stations,LondonEuston. from oneoftheUK’s busiest on theCambrianLine,aswellshowingalongerjourney life casestudiesofstudentsmakingshortjourneyslocally colleges), aplanwasputtogethertoillustrateonfilmreal at DerwenCollege(oneoftheUK’s leadingspecialneeds Working closelywith,andtakingadvice fromcolleagues parents/guardians. assistance totravel,andalsotheirsupporters/carers/ applicable tothosepassengersthatwouldbeseeking would betoproduce afurther shortinformationfilm, assistance availableinaquickandeasytodigestformat best waytoexplainanddemonstratetherangeof Officer ofArriva Trains Wales itwasdecidedthatthe Cambrian RailwaysPartnership,andtheSchoolsLiaison option. Followinganumberofdiscussionsbetweenthe byrailanattractive available tothemmakejourneys broadly unaware ofthewiderangeassistance request assistancewhentravelling,andindeed,were were facingregular difficultyinunderstanding howto apparent thatpeoplewithadditionalorspecialneeds was usedasateachingandinformationaid,itbecame Cambrian Railways’Partnership’s film“FirstClassSafety” During outreach visitstoschoolsandcollegeswhere the The CambrianRailwaysPartnership,ArrivaTrains Wales, AberMedia Productions for‘AHelping Hand’project Passengers Matter Sponsored byAbellio First for allonourrail networks. they canbetter appreciatetheimportance ofinclusivity reduced mobilityorthosewith additionalneedssothat importance ofconsideringthe needsofpassengerswith so thattheytoocangetareal-world indicationofthe will seethebenefitinshowing thefilmtotheirstaff nationally. We alsohopethattrainoperatingcompanies partnership canhavearealandsignificantpositiveimpact is anexcellentexampleofhowalocalcommunityrail where thedifferent types ofassistanceandticket Shrewsbury, Aberystwyth,BorthandGobowenstations Filming withourstudentstarstookustoLondonEuston, incredibly simpleyetinnovativeproduct. stationandpurchaseaticketon-boardthankstothis question wasabletoboardthetrainatanunstaffed wallet cameintoitsownandtheindividualin tied duringfilmingoneparticularsequence-theorange apparent whenoneofthefilm’s ‘stars’becametongue the UK),importanceofwhichbecameimmediately schemes areavailableelsewherethroughoutpartsof Government backed‘orangewalletscheme’(othersimilar Our intentionwasalwaystoalsofeaturetheWelsh tickets. • • • • provide thisstepbyprocessstartingwith: : Showing thedifferent methodsavailabletopurchase and byphoneoforganisingtravelassistance, Demonstrating howtofindandusethefacilityonline connections tobemade), Origin anddestinationpoints(includingany The basicsofplanningthejourney

wherever theymayliveand of chargetopeopleacrosstheUK, is tomakethefilmavailablefree the intention(asinourfirstfilm) other stationsoutsideourareaand it wasdeemedimportanttoshow Railways Partnershipproduction, finished productisaCambrian clearly oncamera.Whilstthe purchasing weredemonstrated wishes touseit.We believethis of chargetoanyorganisationwho and itwillbemadeavailablefree to aclassroomorgroupofpeople, segments whilstbeingpresented viewed aloneinonesitting,or and editedtoenableitbe “A HelpingHand”hasbeenshot choose tomake. whatever journeystheymight improved assistedtravelfeedback. trainees andtrainers, excellent feedbackfromSouthern positively received,including plan. Thecampaignhasbeen where thingsdidnotalwaysgoto service, aswelldemonstrating their positiveexperiencesofthe and postercampaignhighlighting the videoaswellonline Existing passengerstookpartin Southern staff andpassengers. campaign wasrolledoutto audience, the‘ThisisMe’ assisted traveltoawider requirements, whilstpromoting passenger’s individual think furtheraboutevery Aimed atencouragingstaff to Kidsgrove’s passengerexperience. quintessential improvementto running costs,‘ASpotterTea’ isa Trains andfundingfromACoRPfor huge supportfromEastMidlands enterprise ofNorthStaffordshire CRP, the passengers’friend.Thanksto customer-service, whohasbecome resident KathKeeling,epitomeof Booking HallandrunbyKidsgrove cafe, setupatbargaincostinthe Solution? ‘ASpotterTea’ community service, notevendirecttoLondon. board catering?Notavailableonany and snackfortheirrailjourney. On lots ofpassengersrequiringacuppa station (up564%inadecade)equals Rapidly growingfootfallatKidsgrove North Staffordshire CommunityRailPartnership,EastMidlands for ‘ASpotterTea’ communitycafé,Kidsgrovestation Southern for‘ThisisMe’campaign Southern Trains andKathKeeling Second: Third:

25 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Passengers Matter 26 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - WW1 Commemoration Projects – Special Award marshals tothosesingingandactingintheevents. there wereover400Volunteers andsupportersfromevent range ofbackgroundsfromacrossCheshireandbeyond- Over ByChristmasinvolvedallagesfrom8to80a incredible! September 2014and28th2014.Itwas stations acrossCheshire)wereundertakenbetween6th Cheshire Lineand15moreatothertownvillage at 25railwaystations(including7ontheMid being addedintothetimetableuntil47liveperformances The projectmushroomed,withmore&stations excellent! WW1 Commemorationsatlocalrailwaystations– opportunity forMidCheshire CRPtobeinvolvedwith WW1 commemorationatastation-thiswasreal from Theatre InTheQuarterbecausehewanted todoa officer received emailstellinghertocontactMattBaker 2013 whentheMidCheshire CommunityRailpartnership Over ByChristmas(OBC)wasfirstconceivedinOctober WW1 CommemorationProjects – Sally Buttifant,MidCheshire CommunityRailPartnershipOfficer, SponsoredbyGreatWestern Railway for ‘OverbyChristmas’multipleperformanceproject and MattBaker, Theatre InTheQuarter Special Award First be happeningandonecreatedattheendofrunto introduce theprojectandletpeopleknowwhatwould Two shortfilmsweremadetopromoteOBC–one – eachstationlocationhadasuiteof10H&Sdocuments. importantly tokeeppassengers,staff andperformerssafe keeping stationssafeandfunctioningmost managing railhealthandsafety. H&Satstationsiskeyto while keepingthoroughfaresclear&movingand with trains,stationannouncementsandbusyplatforms, what toexpect–itwasturnupandperformcompeting rehearsing beforehand.Performersdidnotknowexactly performance spacewasuniquesothereno timetabled totheminutebetweentrains.Eachplatform the performancebeganastheysteppedoff thetrain, complex. Performersarrivedbytrainwherepossibleand The logisticsaloneforthisprojecthavebeenextremely The Quarter. performances atstationsandworkshopsrunbyTheatreIn 1250 schoolchildrenwerealsoinvolved,attendingOBC :

Chris EvansBreakfastShow! Cheshire coverageintheUKcapitalandamentionon was fourperformancesatStPancrasInternationalgiving articles, TVcoverageandradioopportunities.Thefinale war -OBCbroughtpositivepress–therewerenewspaper they playedandstillplaywithpeopleleavingtogooff to North West &StPancras–remindingpeopleoftherole OBC putapositivespotlightonrailwaystationsinthe totally uniqueproject. audiences -wereached20,000+peopleOBChasbeena Chapel &Poynton),1250schoolchildrenandthe community choirsfromacrossCheshire(Chester, Holmes Councils tomaketheprojecthappen.Addinthree Theatre, CheshireWest, CheshireEastandHalton partnerships, localresidents,schools,HomegrownDance user groupsfromacrossCheshire,othercommunityrail Lancashire HeritageRailway, stationfriendsgroups,rail Trains Wales, Merseyrail,Virgin Trains, NorthernRail,East and togethertheyworkedwithNetworkRail,Arriva worked withMidCheshireCommunityRailPartnership creative partnershipworking–TheatreInTheQuarter Over ByChristmashasbeenanexcellentexampleof Achievements: vimeo.com/98747152 &vimeo.com/106758145 films arebelow: capture thespiritandimpactofOBC.Thelinksforboth used 100yearsago. the stationswhereOBCwasperformedare and reachedoutthroughtherailwaystation–someof station. Peopletodayidentifiedwiththose100yearsago it thatwasordinarypeoplelikethemleavingtheirlocal communities –OBCbroughthometoeveryonewhosaw A reminderthatstationsarekeygatewaysinandoutof respect. emotions –joy, fear, confusion,anger, optimism,sadness, colourful, shortperformancewhichencapsulatedsomany Highlighting thecentenaryofWW1inapoignant,simple, stations. ended 100yearsago-andstillaretoday–railway places whereliveswerechangedandjourneysbegan went off towarandlefttheircommunitiesthevery moving becauseitbroughtthememoriesofthosewho performances atdifferent stations.Itwaspoignant& tears. PeoplesawOBConcethencameagaintofurther chap of102.People(evengrownmen!)weremovedto railway stations-allageswatchedfrombabiestoone moving WW1Commemorationattheirstation.Atlocal This wasanopportunityfor20,000peopletobepartofa played inWW1andsubsequentwars. key rolethattherailnetworkandmenwomen work withthetrainoperatorsremindedeveryoneof through beingperformedontherailnetwork.The The projectalsoreachedouttotherailindustrystaff

27 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - WW1 Commemoration Projects – Special Award WW1 Commemoration Projects – Second: Shirley Rogers, Romsey Station Special Award for Romsey Remembers WW1 Sponsored by Great Western Railway Shirley Rogers, leader of Romsey Station Volunteers group for 8 years, OBC was very accessible to audiences because it was and enthusiastically about seeing OBC and being part of shows considerable enthusiasm and performed in the main by volunteers – ordinary people it. The performers, some of whom do not use trains care for the station and its place in the rather than professional actors. It involved songs from regularly, still talk about the experience of art and history of town. In 2014, the WW1 which everyone knew and could join in with (even performance at stations and on trains! anniversary of the outbreak of World the children who have been studying such songs in school) War One she installed an exhibition and the story of the early optimism of the first few commemorating the conflict and, with months was played out through key moments from considerable effort maintains a display history and through the songs of the time. Audiences stand in the Platform 2 waiting room, loved the eight year old paper boys with their WW1 refreshing its contents each month with headlines highlighting key historical moments. And they contemporary accounts of what identified with the different characters – the nurses, King happened a hundred years ago, whilst George V, Kitchener, Vesta Tilly, the mother saying detailing the effects on the town’s farewell as well as the sweetheart going off to war. people. In turn this has encouraged Because the performance was very visual, colourful and Shirley to undertake other fascinating simple all ages could understand it, join in and and related commemoration projects to appreciate it. honour Romsey’s heritage.

OBC also seems to have had a lasting impact on people – over six months later people still remember last September – whether as an audience member, in a support role or performer - and are still talking positively Third: Dave Hatfield, First TransPennine Express & HMP Hull for Hull Paragon Station World War One Memorial

In 2014, First TransPennine Express (FTPE) partnered with results were outstanding. They were unveiled during a HMP Hull to erect a special station memorial to special ceremony on Sunday 9 November 2014 after the remember the fallen. As there was no standing memorial Service of Remembrance at the Hull Cenotaph opposite to the fallen from Hull, the decision was taken to adorn Hull Paragon Station. Led by FTPE, the event was the main entrance walls of Hull Paragon Station with 20 attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Hull, the Lord Mayor, memorial plaques. standard bearers from the Royal British Legion, current serving Armed Forces personnel and members of the The special plaques were handmade by local prisoners in public. Poppy wreaths were laid in front of the plaques their workshop and gave them the chance to give and remain there today as mark of respect. something back to the community. The plaques have been warmly received by the people of The plaques took over nine months of painstaking work, Hull and remain a point of interest for those tracing their attention to detail and partnership working but the final family ancestry. - WW1 Commemoration Projects – Special Award 2015 - WW1 Commemoration Projects ACoRP Community Rail Awards – Special Award 2015 - WW1 Commemoration Projects ACoRP Community Rail Awards

28 29 30 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Overall Winner Award Sponsored byRailExecutive-PassengerServices Delivery oftheCommunityRailStrategy’ College theyhavehelpedtokeepDelamereStation Through theirpartnershipworkingwithPettyPool lasting legacyfortheirlocalarea. working inpartnershiptheyhavehelpedtodelivera for partnership.Bybringingtogethercommunities For highlighting,sowell,thevalueofacommunity Overall WinnerAward: ‘Outstanding Awarded to:MidCheshire CommunityRailPartnership project ‘OverbyChristmas’wassimplybreathtaking. Commemoration projectsgoesthescaleof a muchvaluedcommunityasset.AndasfarWW1 back toaredundanthistoricbuildingturningitinto has helpedtotransformthestation,bringinglife At EllesmerePorttheirhardworkandperseverance develop lifeskills&confidenceforaftercollege. tidy &bloomingwhilsthelpingtheyoungpeople Photo competition ‘TheEssenceofCommunity Rail’ This categorywas votedforonthenightby allguestsandwinnerswill bedisplayedonourwebsite Sponsored byAbellio GreaterAnglia after 6 th Octoberwww.acorp.uk.com

31 ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Overall Winner Award We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the sponsors of the Community Rail Awards 2015

Without them this project and event could not exist

ACoRP, The Old Water Tower, Huddersfield Railway Station, St George’s Square, Huddersfield HD1 1JF Tel: 01484 481052 Email: [email protected] Website: www.acorp.uk.com