Train Times No.55 - Summer 2009

News, views & features from the world of Community Rail

Bridging the gap The Great Western’s celebrates 150 years of service (see page 8)

ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Regional Round-Up • Up the Junction Adoption Corner • Local Hero • Valley Rail Initiative In this Issue... Hello and Welcome... Page 2 Hello and Welcome Community Rail Partnerships Page 3 From the Chair (CRPs) have always been about involving communities and Pages 4-7 Regional Round-Up dealing with the art of the possible. One of the key ways of Page 8 Bridging the Gap achieving both of these goals is to involve volunteers. Needless Page 9 Community Rail Awards 2009 to say, these aren’t press-ganged - and you’d certainly get your Page 10 Up the Junction come-uppance if they were! They are rather people from round and Page 11 Adoption Corner about, who want to do their bit for their community and who Page 12 Ticket to Ride happen to feel that improving their railway is one way to do it. Page 13 Local Hero - Chris Austin There are many reasons for people wanting to volunteer and it’s not necessarily about altruism or a love of the railway per Pages 14-15 Designated Community Rail se. It’s more to do with making your place in the community Development Fund - Update and feeling that you have - and can contribute - value, for the wider benefit. There are retired people, young schoolchildren, Page 16 DfT Diary students, people recovering from illness or those experiencing unemployment and most importantly, railway staff themselves. Page 17 CRP Spotlight Even workplaces often offer staff volunteers as part of their corporate community responsibility programmes. Pages 18-20 Partnership Profile - Conwy Valley Rail Initiative What binds all these wonderful people together is the sense of wanting to improve their local environment by undertaking small Page 21 Arrivals and Departures tasks that the train operator or infrastructure owner is simply unable to do, on account of the expenditure restraints imposed by running Page 22 What is ACoRP?/Friends United everyday services and facilities. It’s important to realise that many of ACoRP’s colleagues in the rail industry are equally frustrated by the Page 23 Community Rail Partnerships inability to do many of the nice but financially inessential tasks and are only too pleased to welcome volunteers into the fold. “Volunteers are Page 24 Community Rail Diary fundamental to community lines” said one and “we would do far less without them” remarked another.

ACoRP Once again, ACoRP recognised that there was a need to prove Association of Community Rail Partnerships this value using hard financial terms and so we commissioned The Rail and River Centre a companion report to last year’s ‘Value of CRPs’ study, entitled Canal Side, Civic Hall (unsurprisingly!) the ‘The Value of Community Rail Volunteering.’ Like 15a New Street its predecessor, it also provides some fascinating insights and figures, Slaithwaite Huddersfield HD7 5AB including the astonishing £27m added value that Community Rail Phone: 01484 847790 volunteers can bring to the railway each year! Fax: 01484 847877 Website: www.acorp.uk.com This report, launched at ACoRP’s recent ‘Value of Volunteering’ Email: [email protected] conference in Huddersfield, will provide yet another weapon in our Staff: [email protected] arsenal of facts and figures, which show that far from being vague and on the margins of the industry, CRPs are an essential part of rural Staff and local rail and bring enormous value to both the rail industry and local government, as well as the communities that they serve. Neil Buxton General Manager 0777 979 5671 Brian Barnsley Operations Manager 0779 180 0429 This neatly brings me to our 2009 Community Rail Awards, which are Dawn Wolrich Office Manager Philip Jenkinson Company Secretary this year being held in Carlisle! Having waxed lyrical about the value Hazel Bonner Events Organiser of volunteers and CRPs, what better way to show your appreciation Susan Miles Community Stations Project Officer than coming along to (literally) applaud those ordinary people doing Paul Stevenson Project Officer extraordinary things? It’s a measure of their respect and appreciation Chair: Peter Roberts, 0771 355 0377 for CRPs and volunteers that many of the top players in the 22 Deira Close, Quarrington, Sleaford, Lincs, NG34 8UR [email protected] industry are regular guests at the awards. This year promises to be a particularly spectacular event too, with our Train Operating Company and CRP colleagues pulling out all the stops between Thursday 24 Contributors and Sunday 27 September. However, if you can’t spare four days, then at least try the Awards evening on Friday 25 September and the This edition of Train Times was edited by Nigel Barber Saturday festival at Carlisle station - you won’t be disappointed. More ([email protected]). details can be found on the ACoRP website. Special thanks go to Lucy Tennyson and all of our contributors for their ongoing hard work and support. CRPs are definitely ‘A Good Thing,’ so let’s hear it for the Value of Volunteers! Design and production by: GWCC Media ([email protected]).

Front cover picture - The Royal Albert Bridge on the Great Western main Neil to Cornwall. The bridge is celebrating its 150th anniversary - see page 8 for the full story. General Manager

2 From the Chair Principal Funders and Sponsors Summer happenings

Association of Train Operating Companies In the last issue of our magazine, we asked our readers: ‘What do you think of Train Times’? DfT Rail Thank you to all those who took the time and trouble to take part in the survey. The number of responses received was extremely gratifying and taking everything overall, it seems that you, our readers, are broadly content with the quarterly offering, with its mix of news, pictures and features. Welsh Assembly Government

Regional Round-Up was the section most appreciated, with Partnership Profile also scoring highly. As a self-indulgent aside, the writer of the particular column you are reading at the moment was very pleased that no-one commented Corporate Sponsors that they wished to see less of it!

Spring is with us once again - or indeed summer by the time this issue is published. By then Community Rail Month will have run its Angel Trains Ltd course, with a wide range of activities and events across the rail network completed. There were guided walks, music trains, coffee mornings, rambles, folk trains, station galas, festival weekends, special trains - even a twinning ceremony between two Community First Group Rail Partnerships. A plea though - do make sure you tell us about your events!

Although not strictly part of Community Rail Month (as it happened National Express East Coast a couple of weeks earlier), there was the launch of a specially brewed Rail Ale by the Partnership. I’m told they sold out within a few hours . . . Greater PTE All these happenings took a lot of arranging and involved many people who have worked hard to bring an interesting and entertaining focus to their Community Rail lines, often giving up Kilbride Community Rail their spare time to do it. Many who help out are volunteers and the value of their collective contribution was recognised in our recent conference and report. Neil has written comprehensively about this in his column opposite, so let me move on to another interesting Kirklees Metropolitan District Council report, which has recently been published by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC).

Entitled ‘Connecting Communities,’ its remit is demonstrated by Lancashire County Council the sub-title ‘Expanding access to the rail network’. The report presents a positive case for looking at modest improvement and enhancements to the rail network, alongside the big projects like main line electrification. At a quick glance, it could be seen as a Merseyside PTE text promoting a wide scale re-opening of old rail lines, but to do so misses the point. Rather the report identifies the market, starting with where people live and where they want to travel and then looks at where that market could be served by rail, in scenarios that NedRailways have a positive business case. It is sensible and well written and I recommend it to you. Get a copy - it really is worth reading. Northern Rail Moving from Spring to Autumn, I look forward keenly to the ACoRP awards in Carlisle at the end of September. This will be our fifth year and follows last year’s successful event at Plymouth. Our friends and colleagues in Cumbria are putting a great deal of effort into Passengerfocus arranging an interesting programme of ‘Scenic Seminars’ before the Awards dinner, together with a splendid rail festival at Carlisle station over the weekend. So this year’s events promise to have something of interest for everyone. Thank you in advance to all Transpennine Express concerned - see you in Carlisle!

Peter Roberts We welcome additional corporate sponsorship from the railway ACoRP Chairman industry. Please contact our General Manager Neil Buxton if you are interested in sponsoring us.

3 Regional Round-Up What’s going on in your neck of the woods...

Celebrations at Styal ‘Train Times’ gets thumbs up Styal’s last Station Master Harry Jackson was guest of honour when the Manchester to Wilmslow route celebrated its 100th Following the reader survey in issue 54 of Train Times, anniversary. the vast majority of those who responded have given the magazine their seal of approval. To mark the occasion (which included the launch of Sunday services at Styal), a special fun day was held at Quarry Bank Mill. The event was Of the 100+ who took part, Alan Browning - Vice Chair of organised by the Crewe to Manchester CRP, Friends of Styal Station the Wherry Lines CRP - was the name drawn out the hat and The National Trust, with support from Northern Rail. to receive a first class ticket for anywhere on the National Express East Anglia network (special thanks to Jonathan Visitors were treated to model railway exhibitions, historical Denby for supplying the prize). And as if that’s not enough, information on the line, artwork by Styal Primary School children, kids’ Alan also receives ACoRP goodies including a mug, pen and activities and the chance to win rail tickets whilst learning about local mints! services. The headline results from the survey are as follows: But the real star attraction was 89 year-old Harry, who was Station Master at Styal from 1958 to 1966. In Harry’s day, Styal had a • Current format, content and quality - The vast bustling station that won 10 best-kept station awards and handled majority of respondents were happy with Train Times considerable volumes of freight and passengers. as is; During the • Frequency - Again, most were happy with the event, a new quarterly frequency, though some would like to see a promotion was bi-monthly edition; also launched, offering visitors • Most popular section - Regional Round-Up was the arriving by rail out and out winner with readers (particularly those free entrance from within the rail industry); to the Apprentice • Almost 20% of readers wanted to see the return of House or a letters page (Editor’s note - So would we, so please Secret start sending us some!); Garden attractions at • Paper quality - Some respondents questioned the Styal when quality of the actual paper used, saying it was too purchasing good! (Editor’s note - Whilst we’re flattered, it’s worth a ticket to pointing out that the difference in cost between the visit Quarry current paper and less weighty and inferior options is Bank Mill. negligible).

Styal’s last Station Connecting Communities’ report welcomed by Master Harry ACoRP Jackson then… ACoRP has welcomed ATOC’s ‘Connecting Communities’ report as a sensible first step towards reconnecting some towns and villages with the rail network.

“Although ACoRP largely deals with the existing network, we often meet with people who are frustrated at the lack of access to the railway, despite the size of their community” said ACoRP General Manager Neil Buxton. “We appreciate that building or re-opening a railway can be expensive, but this report shows that it is possible to present a good business case in a number of locations. A rail connection can help with regeneration, access to work and education and also help maintain social cohesion.”

‘Connecting Communities’ sits well with ACoRP’s 2008 report on the Value of Community Rail Partnerships, which demonstrated that rural and local lines were generally showing a 3% increase in passengers over and above that being achieved by the network as a whole. It also demonstrated that a properly functioning Community Rail Partnership could show a benefit to cost ratio of 4.6:1.

“There’s an increasing groundswell of opinion suggesting that, with proper support, existing or re-opened local railways can now deliver much better performance and offer much more to their local community than in the past” added Neil. and now, with colleagues from the CRP and Northern Rail.

4 Regional Round-Up

Cromford reborn!

The Derwent Valley’s Cromford Station has been given a new lease of life, with a ‘stunning’ restoration of the station buildings.

In 2005, local charity the Arkwright Society launched a rescue operation to save the derelict 1874 West Platform Building, securing a 99 year lease from Network Rail, before embarking on a massive fundraising operation to raise over £300,000.

Key funders included the Railway Heritage Trust, Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership, the Pilgrim Trust and Derbyshire County Council’s HERS scheme. The public also played an important part, with donations from rail and heritage supporters from around the country.

Four years later, refurbishment is complete, with two stunning The refurbished Cromford Station. office suites created and Cromford Station back in use. In addition to the publicly funded project on the West Platform, a are to work with so many stakeholders to preserve old buildings.” complementary private development has also taken place on the Eastern Platform, where the former derelict railway waiting room *In related news, local operator is to introduce of 1860 has been refurbished to provide a luxury holiday cottage. a new hourly service from Cromford and Whatstandwell to Derby and Nottingham from December this year. The project was officially re-opened by the Duke of Devonshire and Sir William McAlpine, Chairman of the Railway Heritage Trust, at a Alastair Morley from the Community Rail special event held in June. Partnership said: “This is great news for local residents in Cromford and Whatstandwell and will help to encourage even more visitors Commented the Duke: “I’m very proud, as President of the to use the train to access the scenic Derwent Valley, go walking Arkwright Society, that this work has been done. The workmanship alongside the Cromford Canal or visit the Derwent Valley Mills and planning has been absolutely first class. I realise how lucky we World Heritage Site.”

New walks for Cambrian Trailways Trains stepped out in force to help promote the new routes.

The Partnership has launched four new Local Community Councillor Bill Moss, Chairman of the Ardudwy walks in its award-winning Cambrian Trailways series. Regeneration Group said: “We hope these new leaflets will encourage people to visit the area, specifically to undertake the walks, as well as Building on the popularity of the leaflets, which were first introduced appealing to people who are already coming to the area.” last year, these new routes follow recognised rights of way between pairs of stations; from to Talybont, Llanaber to The new leaflets are available from local Tourist Information Centres , Aberdovey to and Newtown to . and staffed stations on the network. The entire set of eight leaflets, along with other information relevant to the Cambrian Railways, are Walkers from a wide range of local organisations including the available to download from www.thecambrianline.co.uk Ardudwy Regeneration Group, Tourism Partnership , Mid Wales Tourism, Council, the Ramblers Association and Arriva Best feet forward on route No.5, Dyffryn Ardudwy and Talybont.

5 Regional Round-Up

NEWS IN BRIEF On your (vintage) bike! Pedal power was in order when National Express East ‘Wherry’ good season for Waveney Anglia and the Bittern and Wherry Lines CRPs issued a new edition of their ‘CycleRail’ leaflet at Norwich station. Waveney Youth Under 11s football team scored an historic double, with a little help from the Wherry Lines CRP.

CRP Officer Ian Dinmore, along with Double cup winners Waveney Under 11s. representatives from Norfolk County Council and NXEA, Sponsored by the CRP, the budding Beckhams had a successful delivered the first batch of leaflets to the station, accompanied by 2008/9 season, becoming the first Waveney Under 11s side to win a very special guest - a vintage bicycle, the historic 1895 Crypto both the Norfolk/Suffolk Youth League Cup and the Suffolk Open Bantam bike. Cup. The ‘CycleRail’ leaflets provide helpful information for visitors and The team competes in Norfolk and Suffolk in many of the towns tourists wishing to explore the attractive Bittern and Wherry line and villages covered by the CRP and is very grateful to Wherry routes by rail and bicycle. Lines for its continued sponsorship and support for youth soccer in the region. Back to the future

It was a case of looking back and forwards at Newtown Northern updates its community strategy Railway Station on the when it celebrated 150 years of serving the local community. Train operator Northern Rail has updated its Community Strategy, featuring a number of new Queen Victoria was amongst the guests for the event, which initiatives. featured live music, a taste of Wales in the form of free Welsh cakes and a free souvenir postcard. First published in 2007, Northern’s Community Strategy set out in detail how the company wanted to engage with Over 100 pupils and staff from St Mary’s Primary School and Ysgol the Government’s Community Rail Development Strategy. Dafydd Llwyd also attended, with the pupils producing fantastic Welsh flags for the event. Their presence also helped represent The new version includes a greater emphasis on the future of the railway at Newtown, as they will be the railway supporting station partnerships, a schools ‘adopt-a- passengers (and possibly staff) of tomorrow. train’ trial project, support for initiatives in socially excluded areas, a ‘Community Ambassador’ scheme and encouraging Northern employees to get involved with community projects and charities.

Window art for Mytholmroyd

Mytholmroyd Station Partnership has launched the latest stage of its Window Art project.

In a special event held at the Church of the Good Shepherd located next to the station, the students of Cragg Vale School presented their artwork, for display at the station.

Guests included Northern Rail’s Head of Government and Community Strategies Dr Paul Salveson MBE and the Mayor of Hebden Royd, Cllr John Beacroft-Mitchell. The limited edition souvenir postcard.

6 Regional Round-Up

Scenic Britain by NEWS IN BRIEF (cont...) Train

Bargains and Beaches This useful little book, which highlights the Railway Station played host to the launch of many scenic lines around the new ‘Bargains and Beaches’ leaflet in June. the UK, is now available from Tourist Information Centres nationwide.

It can also be downloaded from its dedicated website www. scenicbritainbytrain.com and the ACoRP website at www.acorp.uk.com. If you would like a hard copy, please send a 30p stamped address envelope to the ACoRP office.

West Highland Line Postcards

A range of new postcards produced by the Friends Bargains and Beaches leaflet. of the is proving popular with visitors to the area. Produced by the Cambrian Railways Partnership, the The postcards have been co-funded by ScotRail, HITRANS leaflet helps promote some of the area’s top beaches and visitor and the Friends group, with individual cards available free attractions, where admission is either free or a discount available of charge from the catering trolley on the West Highland for those who travel to them by train. Line services. Speaking at the launch, Mark Williams, MP for , The cards are also available in packs of four for the said: “With summer fast approaching, now is the time when princely sum of £1 from Glenfinnan Station Museum, visitors and local residents alike are more likely to hop on a train the on-board shop on the Jacobite steam train and for a ride along the coast. Any discount scheme that can help mainstream outlets like W H Smith’s in Oban. them get even more value for money will, I’m sure, be greatly welcomed!”

Brush strokes Heath Fields Primary School with their artwork. brighten up station!

Birthday celebrations continue at Tutbury and Hatton, where children from a local primary school have produced posters to display on the platform.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the re- opening of Tutbury and Hatton station, Year 3 children from Heath Fields Primary School in Hatton have produced a range of colourful ‘Happy Birthday’ posters, all with a railway theme.

The posters are being displayed in rotation throughout the station’s birthday year.

7 Bridging the gap ACoRP’s Brian Barnsley looks at the engineering masterpiece that is the Royal Albert Bridge on the Great Western main line.

The Royal Albert Bridge across the River Tamar first carried legendary engineer Isambard Kingdom ’s into the Duchy of Cornwall 150 years ago.

Once in a lifetime! To mark the 150th anniversary, Network Rail made arrangements to allow people to cross the bridge on foot.

This engineering masterpiece is truly the railway gateway to the county. So it was early - in fact very early, on the morning on Sunday 3rd May 2009, one hundred and fifty years ago to the day, when four hundred people (including me) gathered at Saltash Station, waiting to take their turn to walk across this iconic bridge.

The bridge walk was one of many events held to mark the anniversary and was organised by a committee of local people, including the Saltash Rail Users’ Group and Saltash Town Council and assisted by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership. Network Rail also lent its support after successful bridge walks at Ribblehead on the Settle - Carlisle line and Calstock on the , with the actual walk taking place during a normal scheduled inspection possession on the bridge.

But what has this got to do with Community Rail? Well, we all run events to engage with our communities and I would suggest that this was the ultimate in community engagement with the people of Saltash. I expected that the walk would attract every train spotter for miles around and there were a few. However, in my group we had a great mix of local people, including one couple who had lived in the

town all their lives and never been able to go on the bridge before. There was also a lady who had moved away, but had made a trip back for the weekend just to celebrate the anniversary and walk the bridge.

Network Rail is to be commended for allowing this event to go ahead. Tim Maddox and his team organized an excellent and safe event that reached out to and gave the community the chance to see this wonderful structure up close.

If you want to learn more about the Royal Albert Bridge in its anniversary year, then go to www. royalalbertbridge.co.uk. There is even a webcam of the bridge.

My thanks to Richard Burningham of the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership for arranging my attendance at this event. Queuing up for the unique opportunity to cross the bridge.

8 Community Rail Awards Once again, the highlight of the Community Rail Calendar is almost upon us. Read on for all you need to know about our very own equivalent of the Oscars…

Community Rail Awards 2 0 0 9

Now’s the time to book your place at the Community Rail Awards, which this time around promises to be more popular than ever.

To be held at the Swallow Hilltop Hotel in Carlisle on Friday 25th September, the awards celebrate the very best that Community Rail has to offer, from the wonderful work of the many volunteers to the best marketing projects.

This years’ awards categories are as follows: ACoRP General Manager Neil • Involving Young People - Sponsored by Northern Rail Buxton at the 2008 awards. • Community Art Schemes - Sponsored by First TransPennine Express • Local Transport Integration - Sponsored by Lancashire County Council • Best Station Garden or Floral Display - Sponsored by National Express • Best Station/Train Retail Outlet - Sponsored by GoVia • Station Development - Railway Heritage Trust • Outstanding Volunteer Contribution - Sponsored by Network Rail • Outstanding Railway Staff Contribution - Sponsored by Network Rail • Best Station Adoption Group - Sponsored by Network Rail • Best Marketing Publication - Sponsored by First Great Western • Best Marketing Event - Sponsored by First Great Western • The Local Station Environment Award - Sponsored by Devon County Council • Passengers Matter - Sponsored by the .

Not forgetting the most coveted prize of all - the Overall Winner Award, sponsored by the Association of Train Operating Companies, which last year was presented to South West Trains and its CRP partners, Three Rivers, the Isle of Wight and the Lymington Line.

The popular Photo Competition, this year sponsored by Ned Railways, also makes a welcome return, with you helping to decide who takes the prize. All you have to do is vote for your favourite Community Rail picture on the Fotopic website via a link on the ACoRP website - www.acorp.uk.com

As always, ACoRP would like to thank all of the sponsors for their generous support and we look forward to seeing you for what promises to be another memorable event.

To book a place at the Community Rail Awards gala dinner, contact Hazel Bonner at [email protected] or call 01484 847790. Alternatively, download a booking form from the ACoRP website - www.acorp.uk.com

9 Up the Junction Our regular opinion column, care of A.N.Onymous and friends.

Fares Fare When the Community Rail strategy was launched, one of the objectives was increasing ridership and revenue. By and large the Community Rail movement has helped achieve this, but five years on, I am still hearing customers and stakeholders complain that ‘so and so conductor did not collect my fare - how can you expect to get support for the trains if they don’t bother to Girvan Station looking south. Picture provided courtesy of R.G.Carr of the Stranraer to Ayr Line Support collect the fares.’ Association.

This is a very good point and even after on a project to sell a small range of tickets away from stations in the near future. discounting the folk that are talking about a journey from 10 years ago (this Turning to revenue protection, this has improved out of all recognition. Many TOCs happens a lot), I then report the incident employ an army of revenue protection officers on trains to assist the guard, but if to the train operator. I like to think this the train is very full, no number of staff will ‘get through’ to sell tickets. The other helps, but …………. problem facing staff is that the wonderful new(ish) ticket machines seem to fail far too frequently and can still only issue tickets at the rate of about one per minute. These are How can we ensure ticket revenue is issues the TOCs need to address urgently. collected? Well, ticket offices seem like a good idea and several CRPs around the Other companies have used threats such as: ‘If you have decided to walk past an open country operate seasonal ticket offices, ticket office on your way to the train, then you will only be able to buy a full-price but they are very hard to set up. The ticket on the train’. I have no idea whether this approach works, but I am certain that process really needs to be simplified if on Community Rail lines with large numbers of casual travellers who may not know the we are to see more full time, third party ‘rules,’ it is likely to result in the said passenger feeling that the train is a very expensive ticket offices - something that CRPs are option and deciding to stick to the car next time. in an excellent position to deliver. Train Operating Companies (TOCs) will tell Finally, many operators have gone down the closed station route, either with ‘bouncer’ you, moreover, that a ticket office is types at temporary barriers, or gates which open when you put in your ticket. Both are costly to run and cannot easily be shut effective. In fact when a blockade went on at my local station, they collected £2,000 again if it does not take enough money on the first day alone which, given the low fares, meant that a lot of people had not to warrant its existence. Add to this the been paying their fare for a while! view of the public, especially in the north, that you can always buy tickets on the What does astound me is the reaction of passengers and stakeholders to barriers at train (remember the ‘Pay Train’ campaign stations. The fuss surrounding a simple gate line installation at Sheffield has reached of the 70’s?) and it’s not difficult to see the national media! The City Council, local ITA, residents and high profile railway why it’s so hard to open a ticket office in enthusiasts have all piled into the argument, with complaints ranging from being late a rural area. home for tea to the gate line ruining the ambience and flow of the building! Now Sheffield is leaking revenue like a sieve and I am pleased to say the train operator East Off-station ticket sales have helped. The Midlands Trains is sticking to its guns and proceeding with its plan to install a gate Tamar Valley Line carnet in the West line. All power to their elbow! I suspect the gates will pay for themselves in months County has worked very well and most and I think we will see a spike on passenger numbers on the Community Rail lines that of the Integrated Transport Authorities operate into Sheffield, as people are counted for the first time in years. (ITAs) have a huge range of products available from shops and post offices. I The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not also understand that one TOC is working necessarily reflect the views of ACoRP.

10 Adoption Corner It’s back! After an 18 month hiatus, our window on the world of station adoption returns…

Design your own station? Eridge (all still operational) and Groombridge and Tunbridge Wells West (both on the heritage line, Spa Valley - shortly to rejoin the Any Community Rail Partnership (CRP) would love to have main line at Eridge). the opportunity of designing a station from scratch. In Lancashire, CRPs were strongly involved in the County The overall aim was to design a new station, taking into account Council led project to develop an eco station at Accrington. community uses and looking at what could be retained, altered, Sadly, examples such as this are the exception and not the restored or demolished. rule. Commented Tim Sparrow, Chairman of the Sussex CRP: “It has However, students been a very exciting project for the Sussex CRP to have been at the involved with and the results have been quite outstanding, with Metropolitan University some of the proposals almost unrecognisable as stations, yet are hoping to buck the capable of performing all the required functions.” trend, with an array of exciting proposals Of the suggestions put forward by the students, some brought to create new stations modernity into the rural scene, whilst others demonstrated on the Uckfield to a strong research capability and produced detailed reports, Tunbridge Wells rail illuminated with a very high standard of draughtsmanship. Now route. the CRP is looking to put the proposals on display.

Working to a brief Said Tim Sparrow: “We hope to stage an exhibition of the entitled ‘Reversing proposals along the route and its respective stations, enabling Beeching’ and local people as well as the train operator and Network Rail to have supported by the a look and get their imaginations working. Sussex Community Rail Partnership, the “It is not beyond the wit of man and the CRP to see if local and students selected and other partner input could not actually finance the refurbishment/ surveyed Uckfield, development/rebuilding of one of the stations, were the Crowborough and How Uckfield Station could look… opportunity to arise.”

Elsenham rejuvenated… …and Ely too!

Elsenham station received some extra care recently after a visit The magic touch of National Express East Anglia’s Alan Neville from new Area Station Manager for Ely, Alan Neville, whose did the trick again, this time at Ely. area includes Elsenham.

Whilst out visiting his new patch for National Express East Anglia, keen gardener Alan saw the potential of the station garden at Elsenham and the benefits a little extra attention would bring.

To help bring the garden back to its former glory, the amateur horticulturist arranged a gardening afternoon in preparation for spring planting, clearing and preparing the ground for a burst of colour throughout the summer months!

Green fingered volunteers at Ely Station.

Aided and abetted by Station Supervisor Dave Funnell and volunteers from City of Ely Perspective, Ely in Bloom, EARTH, Ely Horticultural Society and National Car Parks, Alan and co helped resurrect the once neglected station gardens.

Commented volunteer Philip Eden: “It is wonderful that people care about the station and its appearance. The opportunities for enhancement are great and Alan has already helped to make a real difference to this important gateway to Ely.” Tackling the station garden at Elsenham.

11 Ticket to ride… Marketing local rail services with special offers isn’t a new thing, as guest contributor Michael Farr reveals in his look at rail ticketing through the ages …

Fifty years before the advent of community railways, enthusiastic supporters of local rail travel were doing their bit to encourage the use of trains from their local stations. In several towns, a local printer would produce a timetable leaflet, long before the advent of today’s pocket folders.

At the junction of one of today’s thriving Community Rail lines, Lymington to Brockenhurst, I bought for 3d (a little over 1p today) a folder giving times of services from this New Forest station.

In , now home to the enthusiastic Severnside band of local rail supporters, I began to print timetable cards showing times from Sea Mills, the station from which I had begun to travel daily to school when barely four years old (the fare also costing 3d) and I continued to commute to Temple Meads for the next twenty years. I spent most of my school holidays hanging around the station and learnt not only to read timetables but also to (very unofficially) issue and book up the tickets - which I often did on my way to school on the 8.20 train.

I had learnt to print by traditional letterpress while at school and had invested a fiver in a tiny Adana machine. On this I printed the cards, initially showing the departure times of trains (as well as return services) to Clifton Down, the most popular destination. Before long there was a need for other destinations. These included Portishead, another goal for the Severnside group.

Once the cards were dry, a supply was taken to Sea Mills station, while I delivered more of them door to door to houses within walking distance of the station. Their popularity was such that the station received complaints if new cards were not available as soon as the services changed twice a year!

When a bid was made to close the line during the Beeching era, local railwaymen, led by the station master at Shirehampton, questioned the figures quoted and, with economies from de-staffing stations, it was saved. I like to think the cards helped to encourage people to continue to use my local station even when every family had a car.

Marriage and career progression took me away from Sea Mills, but my printing services were turned to good use, producing tickets in the traditional style invented by Thomas Edmondson in the 1840s. Thomas, my Victorian hero and subject of a small biography, had the brainwave for his ticketing system (which was later rolled out across the world), while station master at what is now Brampton station on the (Newsatle to Carlisle) community line.

My first tickets were for events supporting the very successful reopening of Templecombe station, led by Richard Burningham of Just a few of the the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, so it was not surprising tickets from Michael’s considerable collection. that he later asked for tickets for the Westcountry branch lines supported by the Partnership. in good stead and I was fortunate to move to Waterloo to have the chance to train new ticket office staff and conductors, latterly for An unexpected reward for my amateur railway activities came when South West Trains. Thus I was on hand to print tickets for the launch I was 55. The printing firm for which I worked decided it no longer of their community railway, the Brockenhurst to Lymington line. And needed a publicity manager and I joined at Salisbury. The that brings me full circle back to the station where I bought a 3d experience gained in Sea Mills booking office when a boy stood me timetable all those years ago!

12 Local Hero Chris Austin is seen by many as the ‘founding father’ of Community Rail, having produced the Community Rail Development Strategy. As he eases into retirement, we take a look back at some of Chris’s achievements…

For someone so immersed in rail, it comes as a surprise to find that Chris Austin hails from nautical stock, with not a set of points in sight.

Chris began a lifelong love affair with the railway when, aged only 11, he joined a local railway circle in his homeland of Bristol. Even a law degree from Cambridge failed to sway him from his rail-related ambitions, which eventually led to a place on the British Rail (BR) Management Training Scheme in 1967.

Recalls Chris: “It was a very thorough apprenticeship and covered a wide variety of roles, from my first appointment as Assistant Station Manager at Gillingham (Kent) on the Southern region to working on the Isle of Wight in support of the then Island Chris Austin (right) and current Chairman of the Mark Smith pushing loco no 88 Manager.” round on the newly installed turntable at Minehead.

On completion of his training, Chris wound management and helping guide BR private bills through the parliamentary process. up in South Wales as Circuit Group Manager (train catering) for three years, before a “Amongst the legislation I was responsible for pushing though during this time were the spell at British Rail HQ in Marylebone on changes which made possible the underground rerouting of the Thameslink line and the the planning side, followed by a return to creation of the City Thameslink Station,” says Chris. the Southern patch to work on signalling schemes. After a fairly brief tenure as a consultant, working in partnership with Richard Gibson (Head of Communications for CrossCountry), Chris joined the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) in 1999 as “I actually worked on the singling scheme Executive Director for External Relations. It was during this time that his direct involvement with for Ashford - Hastings, which these days is a Community Rail began. community railway. If we hadn’t singled it in 1976, it would have probably closed.” “I was asked to look at creating an alternative strategy that would help secure the long term future of branch lines and local lines. The result was the Community Rail Development Strategy, It was at this time that he found his real which in essence freed people up to develop the routes, as opposed to simply worrying about vocation, acting as liaison between the BR their collective survival.” Board and senior stakeholders, including central Government, with his first coup the Following the break up of the SRA in 2005, Chris joined the Association of Train Operating acquisition from the then Companies (ATOC) as Director of Public Policy, with projects including the recent production Council of £7 million to electrify the North of the ‘Connecting Communities’ report - the result of two years of work with ATOC train London lines through to Docklands. planners and the Rail Planning Forum to look at improved connectivity for those communities segregated from main railway access. Another major success followed in 1984, when, as a member of the core team in In 2006, his dedication to the cause earned official recognition, when he was awarded the OBE Network South East, Chris engineered for services to the rail industry. Now, even after taking ‘retirement’ in June of this year, Chris Government approval for a scheme to refuses to slip quietly into the sidings. connect the railway north and south of the Thames - the project that later became “I’m a member of the Railway Heritage Committee and the Association of Community Rail known as Thameslink. Partnerships (ACoRP), do work for the Heritage Railway Association and still help out on the West Somerset Railway, where I was Chair for five years and now act as a volunteer, working In 1987, Chris’s stakeholder work took with the gang to keep the lineside in good condition.” on a new twist when he was appointed Parliamentary Affairs Officer to the British As they say, you can take the man out of the railway, but you can’t take the railway out of the Rail Board, providing political guidance to man…

13 Designated Community Rail Development Fund 2008/9 ACoRP’s Operations Manager Brian Barnsley looks at how the Fund’s money has been spent to date…

In April 2008, the Department for Transport (DfT), Network Rail and ACoRP launched the Designated Community Rail Development Fund (DCRDF).

This fund was set up to get much needed cash to projects large and small on designated Community Rail lines across . In total £60,000 has already been allocated, which has been matched by £94,000 of other funding. So where has the money been spent?

Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership Clitheroe Line Community Rail Partnership Promoting Day Trips by train to the National Trust’s ‘Explore the Ribble Valley’ DVD Project Cotehele Estate near Calstock, Cornwall The aim - One of the Clitheroe Line CRP’s outputs is to develop links The Aim - To increase tourism into the Tamar Valley (Plymouth to with local schools and introduce young people to travel by rail. Gunnislake) by train, through promoting the National Trust’s Cotehele Estate - a medieval property overlooking the River Tamar in Cornwall. Cotehele is about one and a half miles easy walk from Calstock Station. The estate is the fifth most visited National Trust property in Devon & Cornwall (37th nationwide), with 118,000 visitors in 2007/8. It was not known how many of these visitors arrived by train.

What was done - The first job was to review the walking route between Calstock station and Cotehele and make the necessary improvements to waymarking. Next was the installation of a new permanent interpretation board at Calstock station, showing a map of the walking route. The board at the station was supported by a print run of 50,000 six page leaflets, promoting visits to Cotehele by train, with distribution through stations, Tourist Information Centre’s and leaflet racks in holiday accommodation. Station posters and targeted adverts in the local press and magazines also backed up the leaflet.

What’s been achieved - A much closer Launching the ‘Explore the Ribble Valley’ DVD. working relationship with the local National Trust staff, the Train Operator and What was done - The project - to produce a high quality DVD to describe other attractions on the Tamar Valley. Early the route between Blackburn and Clitheroe highlighting features of indications are that the target of 1,000 railway, historical and geographical interest and importance - did just visitors using the train to reach Cotehele that. The DVD was designed to meet the requirements of the National will be achieved in the first year. Curriculum Key Stage 2, in particular history, geography and citizenship. The Lancashire Community Rail team, led by Richard Watts, worked with Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership’s the head and staff of Daisyfield County Primary School, Blackburn, on ‘Calstock to Cotehele’ leaflet. the development of the material. The DVD uses a variety of techniques, including open ended questions, encouraging pupils to compare and contrast, examining change through ‘then and now’ pictures and looking at changes in construction methods through an examination of some of the structures along the line.

The DVD is available for use in schools either independently or in conjunction with a CRP officer. However, with CRP officer time at a premium, it became apparent that the DVD would require more substantial supporting materials to make it really effective as a standalone teaching tool. This resulted in a second bid to the fund to produce a substantial teacher’s pack. The map at What’s been achieved - The DVD and Information pack was produced Calstock and premièred to rave reviews in March 2009. Much closer links have Station. been established with schools in the area and so far, four other schools have asked for the full package, including a presentation by the CRP officers and a ride on the line.

14 Designated Community Rail Development Fund

Esk Valley Railway Development Company (EVRDC) Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership The new Website Bedford St Johns Station Signage

The Aim - To improve signage at Bedford St Johns Station - one of the busiest stations on the .

What was done - New simple signs were installed at each entrance A snapshot from the Esk Valley Website. to the station, indicating to The Aim - The Esk Valley has from its earliest days had a website, set prospective up by ACoRP’s Chairman Peter Roberts. However, the team at passengers where decided that it was time it had a revamp, bringing it up to current the trains go and standards. the frequency.

What was done - The EVRDC contracted a local web designer, What’s been Madeleine Parkyn of Envoy Web Design. This proved to be a very good achieved - The move as Madeleine had a real empathy with the Esk Valley project, new signs have which shows through in the finished product. The website has all the two primary detail one would expect - timetables, places of interest, Esk Valley uses - they events, contact details and a host of links to all the websites in the Esk improve the Valley. visibility of the station and The site also has a content management system, so all the Esk Valley also give some staff can input information, which helps to reduce running costs. This reassurance is, however, the first phase of the project and user feedback is being to passengers sought for later phases. that they are at the right (or What’s been achieved - The new website went live on the 22nd May indeed wrong) and so far has had 2,700 hits. Google Analytics has been installed, station. giving a wealth of detail on visitors and where they are viewing from, which in time will be provide useful data for targeted local marketing. The new signage The website can be viewed at at Bedford St www.eskvalleyrailway.co.uk Johns…

Other projects funded by the DCRDF 2008/09

• Pendle Ticketing Scheme - East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership; • Schools Book Project - Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership; • Enhancement of Kendal Signage - Lakes Line Community Rail Partnership; • Chappel Station Lighting - Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership; • Bures Station Lighting - Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership; • Perch Seating at Sudbury - Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership; • Research into extra early morning train service on the Esk Valley Railway line - Esk Valley Railway Development Company; • A study into rail issues relating to the Moorswater Park and Ride proposal - Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership; • Promoting Barnstaple as a shopping destination for day trips by train - Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership; • North Devon Rail Users’ Group Walks from the - Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership; • Pan Lancashire CRP website - All Lancashire Community Rail Partnerships; • East Lancashire ‘Eco Lighting’ - East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership; • Redland Station Art - Severnside Community Rail Partnership; • Severn Beach Station Art - East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership; • More Trains to Newquay promotion - Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership; • Marketing The - Barton Line Community Rail Partnership; • Improvements - Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership.

15 DfT Diary More goings on from the Department for Transport’s Community Rail team, brought to you by David Hibbs…

Spending wisely… considering everyone

The Department for Transport seeks to promote “Transport that works for everyone” - a challenge and a half, since one person’s transport improvement can be another person’s increased traffic noise or additional call on taxes. However difficult the task, we do take this seriously, often seeking to trade off the costs and benefits of any particular investment through the use of ‘cost - benefit analysis,’ which tries to put values on costs and benefits and balance the two.

David Hibbs, on a wet and windy day at Exeter St Davids. Cost - benefit analysis is particularly appropriate for major investments and many people will be aware of However, this is not the whole story. There is also an issue our classification of schemes according to their “BCR” of which parts of society benefit and whether people are or “Benefit - Cost Ratio”. This basically takes the cost of being treated fairly. a scheme (financial costs to the taxpayer plus negative impacts on others) and compares them with the benefits All Government policy is reviewed using Equality Impact of the scheme (time savings to travellers, reduction in road Assessments. The idea is that we systematically think accident causalities etc). about how a policy impacts on different parts of society. For example, will this have an impact on older people We classify a BCR of less than 1 as poor value - which is more than younger people - or vice versa? Will it impact easy to understand as for every £1 of benefits, there is on particular ethnic groups or women more than men? If more than £1 of costs. If anyone wants to spend their so, is this impact justified or defensible, or does the policy money this way, please speak to me privately as I would be need to be changed or even abandoned? happy to give you 99p or less for every £1 you give me! The Community Rail Development Strategy - actions to Between 1 and 1.5 there is a positive net benefit, i.e. you get better value from local rail - has come through this get out enough benefits to balance the costs and still have assessment with flying colours. It is actively inclusive and something left over - but not by a big margin, so we class seeking to break down barriers to social inclusion by this as “low value for money”. making the railway more welcoming and easier to use. Better access between platforms and trains has already Between 1.5 - 2 is medium value for money and over 2 is been installed at Harrington in Cumbria and is currently high. being put in place at St Albans in Hertfordshire. The ‘Harrington Hump’ offers the prospect of easier access for Last year a consultant’s review of Community Rail people with disabilities (many of whom are older people) Partnerships showed that a properly functioning and other people who find getting between the platform Community Rail Partnership could deliver high value for and the train difficult e.g. people with small children. money, provided it generated extra passengers for the railway and, by so doing, reduced road traffic. Good news Community railways should, and they generally do, seek and worth shouting about. to be welcoming to the whole community. Community Rail can offer value for money, but it is worth spending All of this is really important. The Government is spending a few minutes from time to time to review our work, £15bn of taxpayer’s money on rail over the next 5 years ensuring that at the sharp end, we still pass these tests and it is vital we know that this money is being spent well. with flying colours.

16 CRP Spotlight It had to happen… Yes, at last the champion of the Crewe to Derby route, North Staffs CRP’s Faye Lambert, takes centre stage…

Where were you born and brought up? I was born in Bangor, Gwynedd, but I’m a Yorkshire lass at heart, having been brought up in the East Riding, within shouting distance of ’Ull, where my Dad worked as an aircraft test pilot.

What has been the best time of your life (to date)? Studying at the University of Wales for my first degree.

Tell us a bit about yourself, pre-railway? I’m a communications specialist and worked in public relations for the NHS for 15 years, both for an acute hospital unit and for the Strategic Health Authority, fielding queries about winter pressures and ward closures. Stressful yes, but I loved it. Faye Lambert, second from right, with Blythe Bridge Station adopters.

What does your current role as CRPO entail? What makes you happy? If I listed everything I’d be in danger of exceeding your 500-word Being somewhere lovely (i.e. Venice) and sharing a slap-up feed limit! Well there’s lots of fund-raising obviously and I seem to have and a couple of bottles of the best dry white, whilst making plans done quite well on this front, levering in around £550,000 so far to visit another gorgeous place tomorrow. from regeneration pots, local transport partnerships and the like.

As I was the first Project Officer for the CRP, there were a million What has been your greatest achievement so far? things to do, the main one being drumming up volunteer support…thankfully we’ve now got some real stars. Then there’s I’m a published author, having been commissioned to write three developing and rolling out station improvement projects, general titles for a series by the NSPCC for their Full Stop Campaign. It promotion, writing bids and reports…you name it, whatever’s in was great seeing them in the bookshops. the Community Rail bran tub, I’m sure I’ve done it at some stage!

Which famous living person do you most admire Hobbies and interests? and why? My main hobby has to be loafing around in my scruffs with just Margaret Thatcher for her sheer guts and tenacity. Not everyone’s the cat for company. I love gardening and support lots of animal cuppa I know, but then don’t all great people divide opinion? and wildlife charities.

Do you watch or play any sport? If so, what’s your If you weren’t doing the job you do now, what favourite? career would you like? I don’t play any (too much of a couch potato), but enjoy watching Writing full time would be favourite - as well as this job, I work any big sporting event, especially Francesco Totti playing for Italy as a freelance. However, I also have an ambition to be a lady who in the World Cup! lunches. I’ve been practising this with huge success on my days off, so plan to settle into this very exacting role quite soon (with the support of my generous and hard working hubby!) Name one of the best films you have ever seen? ‘The Rebel’ with Tony Hancock - bizarre humour at its best. What makes you angry? Now I’m in this job, anything to do with railways! Remind me Your favourite actor and actress again, why am I doing this job? Jack Nicholson and Julie Christie.

17 Partnership Profile - Conwy Rail Valley Initiative Larry Davies of the Conwy Valley Rail Initiative shows Lucy Tennyson what makes this popular tourist route tick…

The runs from the resort of on the coast, south to , the slate capital of Wales in . In 30 miles, it packs in more contrasts in landscape than most other small lines in the country.

The route has 14 stations (eight of them request stops), with operating Class 150s and 153s on a three hourly service.

The branch railway came to Llandudno in 1858, but currently the Victorian railway station lies half demolished in lieu of long awaited redevelopment, while Network Rail and Conwy County Borough Council review plans for a transport interchange.

In contrast, you need travel no further than Betws-y-Coed halfway up the Conwy Valley line to see a station restored and extended in 2003. The station forms a busy and attractive hub for the community, with a wide range of cafés and gift shops. The tourist information centre is Larry Davies, Rail Officer adjacent and there are well signed bus stops outside. There’s also, in for the Conwy Railway Initiative, is a hugely the old goods yard, the extraordinary Conwy Valley Railway Museum, knowledgeable and entertaining guide to the line and its history. He whose staff have adopted the station. was born into a railway family in Conwy and has returned to the area after 31 years in the police force. His last posting was as Divisional Commander for the Conwy Division. The railway museum shop at Betws-y-Coed. Says Larry: “The railway is in my blood and this line has always been dear to my heart. It’s a survivor. It was only saved from the because it was used to carry waste from the nuclear power station at Trawsfwnnydd.”

The line has a fascinating history, closely linked to the changing fortunes of the area. It was built in stages, first to carry slate down

Betws-y-Coed Station.

Conwy Valley Rail Initiative’s Larry Davies. Picture used courtesy of Conwy Valley Rail Initiative.

from the hills to the coast, finally reaching Blaenau in 1879.

Today the slate mines have closed and work is scarce, leaving this rural community struggling to survive. Tourism, in which the railway is playing a growing role, is the lifeline. The Conwy Valley Initiative, one of the first partnerships in

18 Partnership Profile

Other challenges include dealing with the peaks and troughs of the tourist trade, as well as flooding - the latter dealt with by a £1.3 million worth of reinforcing work from Network Rail, though both Larry and Bob accept that the costly upgrades needed to increase the level of service may be some way off. However, Larry remains positive about the Initiative and the future. “The North Wales main line timetable is the best we’ve ever had. We’ve now got through trains to London, Birmingham and .”

The Journey

The actual journey on the Conwy Valley Line begins at Llandudno, with its grand line of seafront hotels free of garish amusements, though the bargain stores and charity shops in the roads behind give an indication that the town has seen better days.

The line is popular with Charter Operators, bringing much valued business to the area. Picture used courtesy of Conwy Valley Rail Initiative. the country, was set up in 1994 by retired businessman Peter Jones, who saw its potential when lines such as this were still threatened by closure.

Larry, who works two days a week, has been in post four years. His first move was to relocate his office onto the platform at . “I like to be hands-on. Being part of the community I serve is important to me.”

The Initiative’s main funder is Arriva Trains Wales, along with Gwynedd and Conwy Councils. That famed Welsh community spirit is alive and well on the railways. All stations are adopted and Larry says he has excellent support from Arriva Trains Wales, local businesses and the Regeneration Unit for the Conwy Valley. A view of Stephenson’s Tubular Bridge carrying the to main line over the . Picture used courtesy of Conwy Valley Rail Initiative. Bob Saxby, the Public Transport Officer at Conwy County Borough Council, is chairman of the Initiative, which has an aspiration to Next up, Llandudno Junction, where the main line has excellent increase the frequency of the current train service from every three connections to the North and Midlands. A short walk away is the hours to hourly. imposing 13th century . The town itself is a World Heritage Site and its prosperous shops and heritage are in contrast to Says Bob: “We don’t look at the railway in isolation, but see it the declining coastal resorts nearby. working closely with other services. It’s a lifeline for locals and is Station vital to tourism. We work closely with the heritage railways and bus gardeners companies, which are really supportive of the rail line, although we’ve from the local railway got one company in Caernarfon that’s not interested in co-operation. Society Despite pressure from the Welsh Assembly, it won’t budge from Group keep running buses at the same time as trains.” Tal y Cafn station ship shape. Picture used Successful projects involving the Initiative include: courtesy of Conwy Valley • Station adoptions - All are cared for by local community Rail Initiative. groups; • Concessionary fares - The Welsh Assembly funded pilot has been extended for a third year to give free travel to pass holders on the Conwy Valley line (along with Cambrian Coast and Heart of Wales lines); • The funding of new signs at Llandudno Junction; • Mini-timetables - Introduced in 2005 and reprinted twice Station annually; Adoption • Young people working on a community project to create Group. new station gardens at ; Picture used courtesy of • School groups producing artwork at Llanwrst; Conwy Valley Rail Initiative. • Regular station clean-ups at Glan Conwy by the local scout groups.

19 Partnership Profile

Busy day at North . Picture used courtesy of Conwy Valley Rail Initiative.

The line then runs alongside the wide sweeping Conwy estuary, safe behind new flood defences, with its wide open spaces home to an RSPB reserve. We rattle past a couple of request stops, pausing at North Llanrswt for an exchange of tokens before moving into the foothills of Snowdonia. The train then stops at Llanrwst, a market town once reached by river steamers.

After passing through forests, we climb steeply after crossing Gethin’s Bridge and an imposing stone-built seven arch viaduct, before tracking fast flowing rocky streams as we continue to climb into the hills, with a further three request stops before plunging into another . The darkness is intense after the vivid green Welsh landscape. A long five minutes later we emerge dramatically into a changed world - an eerily empty lunar landscape of abandoned mines and towering mounds of waste slate. It’s as dramatic as anything we’ve seen before. Taking part in Community Rail Month at Blaenau Ffestiniog, L-R, the Cambrian’s Gerwyn Jones, Cllr Philip Evans from Conwy Valley Borough Council, Larry Davies and Clare Blaenau Ffestiniog’s population is half that of the 11,000 of a Britton, Commercial Manager for the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. hundred years ago. Little slate is now mined and the town is working hard to reverse years of decline and unemployment. Larry works in close The 75 minute journey has been fascinating and what tourist wouldn’t co-operation with the heritage lines, with a through want to continue by train into Snowdonia? And of course they can, ticket available from Llandudno to . The two organisations by crossing over the platform onto one of the famed Great Little also worked together to hold a day-long special event during Trains of Wales. The Company is the world’s oldest Community Rail Month (15th May - 12th June), held at Blaenau independent railway, first established in 1832 by an Act of Parliament. Ffestiniog. The ongoing aim is to build on the strong sense of co- Built on a 23-inch gauge used in the quarries, the line was originally operation in the area, making best use of scarce resources. worked by horses hauling empty wagons from Porthmadog back up to the quarries. Looking ahead, Larry says: “Our main aim now is the enhancement of the passenger train service and we are actively working with the The Ffestiniog Railway enables travellers to extend their journey from Welsh Assembly Government, which has commissioned a consultation Llandudno down to Porthmadog on the coast and then continue to look at the way ahead.” on the Welsh from a stop near Beddgelert on to Caernarfon. The remaining section to complete the line will open later Rest assured, Larry and co will be there to ensure the best deal for the this year. route and the communities it serves.

20 Arrivals and Departures

A busy time this last few months, with several ‘hellos’ Still in the departures lounge, Essex and ‘goodbyes.’ and South Suffolk CRP bids farewell to Grace Stevens, who has left her role Following the departure of Geoff as Community Rail Officer. Hoon as Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Lord Andrew On the arrivals front, Ed Funnell, Adonis steps up from his position formerly Director of Communications as Minister of State for Transport to at ATOC, has been appointed as Acting take over the SoS role. Also within Head of Strategic Communications at the DfT, Chris Mole MP has been the Department for Transport. appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, National Express East Anglia (NXEA) responsible for national networks, has appointed James Steward to the including rail and road. Grace Stevens bids farewell to role of Area Manager - Rural Routes. Essex and South Suffolk CRP. With an area that covers much of Staying with Ministerial Suffolk and Norfolk and incorporates appointments, the former the award-winning Bittern, Wherry, Parliamentary Private Secretary to East Suffolk and Felixstowe branch New Secretary of State for Gordon Brown, Angela Evans lines, James’ patch also incorporates 38 Transport Lord Adonis. Smith, has become the new stations, including the award-winning Minister for the Third Sector. She Wymondham Station and out-of-the- replaces Kevin Brennan, who has way Berney Arms, popular with wildlife moved on to Peter Mandelson’s enthusiasts and birdwatchers alike. new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Angela will South Community Rail become a minister of state rather Partnership welcomes a new arrival in than a parliamentary under secretary, the guise of Community Rail Officer as Kevin Brennan was. She has also Alex Owen. Alex can be contacted at been appointed to the Privy Council, The DfT’s Ed Funnell. Alexandra.Owen@.gov.uk Angela Evans Smith - new though she will not be a full cabinet Minister for the Third Sector. minister. Dawn Swift is the part-time Development Assistant for the Esk Mid Cheshire’s Community Rail Officer Mark Willcox bids farewell to Valley Railway Development Company. take up the role of project manager at a college of further education She joins Trevor Goodall, who is also in Manchester. However, Mark has become a member of the Mid a part-time Development Assistant for Cheshire Rail Users’ Association to maintain links with the railway. the route.

Chris Watson has also left his role as CRO with the Finally, we say farewell to Phil Robbins, (Nottingham to Skegness) to take up a post in Lincolnshire County one of the original members of the Council’s Education Department. DfT’s Community Rail team, who recently lost his fight against cancer. Jane Lee has left her post as Head of Media and Public Affairs for We are sure everyone who knew him South West Trains. Emma Aylett has also left her role as CRO for the NXEA’s new Area Manager for will want to join ACoRP in sending Lakes Line CRP. Rural Routes, James Steward. condolences to his family and friends.

Keeping Track of Train Times How to ensure your stories find their way into Train Times.

Guidelines for contributors Future editions

To ensure consistency and assist the editorial process, all written Train Times 56 (October 2009, Autumn edition) material submitted for Train Times should be sent as a Word document, using Arial as the font in point 12 text. All grammar Deadline for material: Friday 11th September 2009 should be checked before submission. Publication date: w/c 12th October 2009 Images And finally... Photographs/images should be sent as high resolution JPEG files at 300 dpi. Where this is not possible, please send hard copies Please send your contributions for Train Times to the editor (which can be scanned) to the Editor at 12 Woodland Avenue, at: [email protected]. To ensure Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 6HE. inclusion, please submit your material before the deadline.

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21 What is ACoRP?

Their work includes improving bus links to stations, developing The Association of Community Rail Partnerships walking and cycling routes, bringing station buildings back to life, art and education projects and organising special events which promote (ACoRP) is a federation of over 60 Community Rail the railway and its relevance to the community. Partnerships (CRPs) and rail promotion groups.

We are an organisation of ‘do-ers’, focused on Membership of ACoRP practical initiatives which add up to a better, Full membership of ACoRP is open to organisations which are actively more sustainable local railway. Improved station involved in the promotion and/or development of local railways, with facilities, better train services and improved a high level of community involvement. In general, we encourage integration with other forms of transport are rail user groups, heritage railways and railway re-opening campaigns central to the work of ACoRP and its members. to join their relevant organisation - RailFuture, Railway Heritage Association and Campaign for Better Transport (formerly Transport 2000).

What ACoRP Does Annual membership costs £150 or £75 for unfunded voluntary organisations. We also have a category called ‘Station Friends’ for • Works with decision makers at a local, regional and national smaller voluntary groups who bring tender loving care to their level to ensure that local rail’s important role is fully station/s. This costs £25. All prices are subject to VAT. Membership for recognised; any of these categories is by application. There is no form as such, but we would like to know what you do, how you involve the community • Helps identify innovative solutions for local railways; and how being a member of ACoRP can help you.

• Disseminates examples of good practice; We also welcome corporate sponsorship from the railway industry, other rail-related organisations and local government. • Works with local stakeholders to develop new partnerships;

• Supports an expanding membership, including conferences Become an ACoRP Associate and training sessions; Anyone can become an ‘ACoRP Associate’ and in return for an annual • Issues regular Community Rail reports including e-mail subscription, receive our quarterly magazine, Train Times, as well as newsletter ‘Train on Line’, and quarterly magazine ‘Train discounts on attending our conferences.

Times’; Contact us • Maintains and runs a lively, user-friendly website; For further information, please contact us at our Slaithwaite • Encourages people to think outside their trains! office on: 01484 847790 or alternatively write to us at:

ACoRP’s Members ACoRP, The Rail and River Centre, Community Rail Partnerships are a bridge between the railway and Canal Side, Civic Hall, local communities. They are about positive development, bringing 15a New Street, together a wide range of interests along the rail corridor. Some Slaithwaite, partnerships have been instrumental in achieving spectacular increases Huddersfield, HD7 5AB. in the use of rail through innovative marketing, improved services and better station facilities. or e-mail: [email protected]

Friends United!

Friends of Altrincham Interchange Friends of Leamington Station Friends of Annan Station Friends of Levenshulme Station Friends of Barnstaple Station Friends of Littleborough Stations Friends of Blackrod Station Friends of New Milton Station Friends of Brandon Station Friends of Penmere Station Friends of Broadbottom Station Friends of Poulton Railway Station Friends of Bugle Station Friends of Reddish North Station Friends of Chapel Station Friends of Saunderton Station Friends of Chinley Station Friends of Walkden Station Friends of Davenport Station Friends of Whaley Bridge Station Friends of Dronfield Station Friends of Wemyss Bay Station Friends of Eccles Station Market Rasen Station Adoption Group Friends of Furness Vale Station Mytholmroyd Station Partnership Friends of Glossop Station Rishton Prospects Panel Friends of Handforth Station Sudbury Station Adopters Friends of Hebden Bridge Station Todmorden Station Partnership Friends of Heyford Station Winchelsea Station Adoption Group Friends of Hindley Station Friends of Homerton Station If you wish to contact your local station ‘Friends’ group, please call Friends of Irlam Station the ACoRP office.

22 Community Rail Partnerships

Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership: (Watford Junction - Lakes Line Community Rail Partnership: (Windermere - St Albans), John Gunner, T: 0777 099 3162, Oxenholme), TBC E: [email protected] Leeds-Lancaster-Morecambe CRP: Simon Clarke, Barton Line Community Rail Partnership: (Barton-on- - T: 01772 530144, E: [email protected] ), Gill Simpson, T: 01652 662028, Llangollen Railway: Gordon Heddon, T: 01978 860979, E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Bittern Line Partnership: (Norwich - Sheringham), Lymington-Brockenhurst CRP: Bobby Lock, T: 01983 618714, Ian Dinmore, T: 01603 224248, E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Rail Partnership: (Wrexham - Bidston), Marston Vale CRP: (Bedford - Bletchley), Stephen Sleight, Jamie Sant, T: 01352 704537, E: [email protected] T: 01234 832645, E: [email protected] Cambrian Railways Partnership: (Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth Mid Cheshire Rail Partnership: (Manchester - Northwich - and Dovey Junction - ), Gerwyn Jones, T: 01654 700120, Chester), TBC E: [email protected] North Cheshire Rail Users Group: (Chester - ), Campaign for Borders Rail: (Edinburgh - Galashiels), Ian Bell, Cedric Green, T: 0151 625 8017, E: [email protected] T: 01450 375787, E: [email protected] North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership: (Derby - Chester - Rail Partnership: Sheila Dee, Stoke - Crewe), Faye Lambert, T: 01782 232272, T: 01691 772784, E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Clitheroe Line CRP: (Manchester - Clitheroe), Brian Haworth, Moors Railway Trust: (Pickering - Grosmont - T: 01772 533196, E: [email protected] Whitby), Phil Bustard, T: 01751 473799, Community Rail Humber: (Hull - Scarborough, Barton-on- E: [email protected] Humber branch), David Walford, T: 01377 232132, Nottingham - Skegness Community Rail Partnership: E: [email protected] (Nottingham - Skegness), TBC Conwy Valley Rail Initiative: (Llandudno - Blaenau Ffestiniog), Purbeck Rail Partnership: (Wareham - Swanage), Mick Stone, Larry Davies, T: 077 330 12818, E: [email protected] T: 07956 023197, E: [email protected] Promotion Group: (Oxford - Worcester - SAYLSA - Stranraer to Ayr Line Support Association: Richard Hereford), Derek Potter, T: 01386 750628, Carr, M: 07977 139447, E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Settle-Carlisle Railway Development Co: (Leeds - Settle - Crewe-Manchester CRP: Nik Matuszczak, T: 0161 218 1515, Carlisle), Marion Armstrong, T: 01729 825888, E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Cumbria Coast CRP: (Carlisle - Barrow), Laurence Hilland, Severnside Community Rail Partnership: (Bristol area), T: 07596 920801, E: [email protected] Sarah Collins, T: 07795 562311, Derwent Valley Line CRP & South East Derbyshire E: [email protected] Accessibility Partnership Integrated Transport: (Derby - South Fylde Line CRP: (Preston - Blackpool South), Matlock), Alastair Morley, T: 01629 580000 x 7681, Simon Clarke, T: 01772 530144, E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership: (Exeter - Barnstaple/ South Pennines Community Rail Partnership: (Huddersfield Exmouth, Par - Newquay, Truro - Falmouth, Plymouth - - Penistone - Sheffield, Huddersfield - Stalybridge - Manchester Gunnislake, St Erth - St Ives, Liskeard - Looe), Victoria, Leeds - Halifax - Rochdale - Manchester), Nikki Millns, Richard Burningham, T: 01752 233094, T: 07912 753817, E: [email protected] E: [email protected] South West Wales Community Rail Partnership: Alex Owen, Durham County Council: Steve Lockwood, T: 0191 383 3212, T: 01792 637643, E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Sussex Community Rail Partnership: (Ashford - Hastings, East Lancashire CRP: (Preston - Colne), Brian Haworth, Oxted - Uckfield, Oxted - East Grinstead and Lewes - Seaford/ T: 01772 533196, E: [email protected] Brighton), Sam Bryant, T: 07891 556897, E: [email protected] East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership: (Ipswich - Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership: (Salisbury - Romsey Lowestoft and Ipswich - Felixstowe), Barry Woodgett, - Eastleigh - Southampton), Mark Miller, T: 02380 270818, T: 01473 583331, E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Esk Valley Railway Development Co: ( - Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership: (Newcastle - Carlisle), Whitby), Angie Thirkill, T: 01947 829802, John Gillott, T: 01434 607216, E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Plc: (Leeming Bar - Redmire), Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership: Ruth Annison, T: 01969 667487, Lucy Ainger, E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Ffestiniog Railway/: Clare Britton, West Lancashire CRP: (Wigan - Southport, Preston - Ormskirk T: 01766 516023, E: [email protected] and Wigan to Kirby), Brian Haworth, Forum: (Swansea - Shrewsbury), David T: 01772 533196, E: [email protected] Edwards, T: 01554 820586, E: [email protected] Wherry Lines Community-Rail Partnership: (Norwich - Heart of Wessex Rail Partnership: (Bristol - Bath - Yeovil - Lowestoft and Norwich - Great Yarmouth), Ian Dinmore, Weymouth), Catherine Phillips, T: 01963 435058, T: 01603 224248, E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Highland Rail Partnership: Frank Roach, T: 01549 402896, International members: E: [email protected] DHR India Support Group High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership: Washington Area Rail Passengers Association (Manchester - Sheffield, Buxton and Glossop lines), Martin Smith, T: 01629 585093, We have reciprocal membership with: E: [email protected] Community Transport Association Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership: Bobby Lock, Development Trusts Association T: 01983 618714, E: [email protected] Heritage Railway Association Kent & Medway Rural Transport Partnership: (Paddock Wood SusTrans - Strood), Nigel Whitburn, T: 01303 850816, Campaign for Better Transport (formerly Transport 2000) E: [email protected]

23 Community Rail Diary

Community Rail Awards - Carlisle 25th September 2009

Community Rail Festival - Carlisle 25th - 27th September 2009

ACoRP ‘Working with Other Modes’ conference March 2010 - (venue tbc)

Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP), The Rail and River Centre, Canal Side, Civic Hall, 15a New Street, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield HD7 5AB Phone: 01484 847790 Fax: 01484 847877 Email: [email protected] Website: www.acorp.uk.com