What are you trying to achieve?
We are trying to encourage more people in the villages between Gunnislake and Callington to use the Tamar Valley Line, particularly for work trips to/from Plymouth.

What are you proposing to use the money for?
As part of a revamp of the Callington – Gunnislake – Tavistock bus route, Cornwall Council, DAC Coaches and ourselves will introduce new trial bus services between Callington, Harrowbarrow, Metherell, St Anns Chapel and Gunnislake station connecting with the peak commuter trains (07 32 from Gunnislake and 16 42 from Plymouth).

These will be publicised in a new leaflet “Take the bus to catch the train” which will include the full bus timetable and highlight both the new commuter connections and services through the day.  Leaflets will be distributed to households in each of the target villages and distributed via shops, post offices etc.  We will also distribute them on the 16 42 train from Plymouth one weekday.

In addition, the new partnership and connections will be publicised in a press release and we will include them in our timetable leaflet, to be issued in early January 2010

Total cost of project £9250

Was the project successful? (April 2010)
It is hard to say precisely how much this is being achieved.  The bus company reports a 10% increase in use of the bus route since the changes which included the rail commuter services were introduced.  They say too that they have three regular travelers. who make the connection plus a number of casual users.
It is good that overall numbers on the Callington – Gunnislake – Tavistock bus route have increased healthily but given we have three regular bus/rail users and my aim was for ten, then we have not yet succeeded.

What do you think was good about this project?
We have a really good partnership with DAC Coaches and the bus team at Cornwall Council.  As well as providing the new bus/rail opportunities, plus promotion, this project also made a number of other service improvements possible.
This project has led to another co-operation for summer Sunday buses between Gunnislake, Cotehele, Callington and Liskeard, providing links with both the Looe Valley and Tamar Valley Lines.………….

What do you think went wrong with this project?
Promoting rail/bus interchange can be tricky, especially in a very rural area.  The results of this project so far appear to underline that.
While the project does not yet appear to have delivered the hoped for number of regular rail/bus passengers, the overall increase in numbers using the bus route has pleased both Cornwall Council and DAC Coaches.

 

What are you trying to achieve?

• An increase in winter & spring patronage through a wider distribution of publicity
• Greater awareness of the Bittern & Wherry Lines
• Improve access to facilities and information on public transport (N.I.175)

What are you proposing to use the money for?
To pay for a professional distribution company to undertaken the frequent drops and top ups for the winter line guide between December 2009 and May 2010

Was the project successful? (March 2010)
The success criteria were a minimum 2% growth in usage at local stations.
The actual growth on route fell by 2-5% overall due to a combination of strikes and total engineering blockades

Did the project run to the timescales envisaged?
The project was carried out at an optimal pre Christmas time

Did the costs turn out as expected - if not why not?
The costs were underestimated due to short notice increase in petrol prices which was passed on by the distributor.

What do you think was good about this project?
Timing was right for the pre Christmas period

What do you think went wrong with this project?
Short nice changes to costs and engineering blockades

What lessons can be learned from this project?
Get a contract price quote and agree that it applies for at least three months

Would it be appropriate to do a similar project on your route or another route?
Yes, very much so, It’s good to target a station catchment area with a “use the train” message

Is there anything else that would be useful to pass on to other CRPs arising from this project?
We would do this again but take more care to check about possible service disruptions and agree a contract price valid longer than 30 days.

 

What are you trying to achieve?
The production of a high quality DVD to describe the environmental projects that are taking place along the East Lancashire line.  The DVD will focus on the Accrington Eco Station project but also take in the recycling shelter project at Lostock Hall (part funded by a CRDF grant) and the eco lighting schemes at Rishton and Brierfield (part funded by a CRDF grant).  These projects will be linked to developments taking place in NW Europe as part of the SusStations (Sustainable Stations) project and to issues relating to climate change.  The DVD will be aimed at key stage 2 pupils and will continue with the 'Brian the Bull' theme.  However, it will be possible for the DVD to be used by secondary teachers in years 7 and 8 (i.e. lower secondary age groups).

What are you proposing to use the money for?
The funding will be used to commission a suitable company to provide professional services in connection with the production of the DVD.  This will be supported by the ELCRP, LCC and Northern Rail who will develop the storyboard to be used by the DVD production team.

Total cost of Project £9000

Was the project successful?
Most of the filming has taken place and is being worked on by the production company.  However, due to a delay in completing phase one of the Accrington station project and the extreme winter weather during January & February there has been a delay to the original programme with the launch now likely to be late June/early July instead of May i.e. a delay of about 6 weeks.

The progress to date has been good with a considerable footage already in the can!!  Further, local schools are already expressing considerable interest in the DVD following the success of the earlier DVD 'Explore the Ribble Valley' with Brian the Bull.  It is anticipated that the community resource room at the new Eco Station will be a popular facility once it is operational – likely to be with the start of the autumn term given the revised opening date for the new station.

Did the project run to the timescales envisaged?
No as explained above.

Did the costs turn out as expected - if not why not?
The outturn cost is now expected to be £10,000 or £1000 more than in the application.  This reflects some changes to the concept and additional material that has been filmed for use in the DVD.

What do you think was good about this project?
To date the willingness of Apple Video and Northern Rail to work with us on this project.

What do you think went wrong with this project?
Timescales have been affected by the extreme winter weather, rain in November and snow, ice and frost during January and February. This has affected the building programmes for both phases 1 and 2 of the Accrington Eco Station project.

What lessons can be learned from this project?
Be less optimistic about British winter weather, even with global warming, and build in even greater contingency!!

More information click here

 

What are you trying to achieve?
Accrington is one of the 23 national station travel plan pilots and is also the location for a new 'Eco Station' that is currently under construction.  The station scheme will inter alia provide new cycle parking facilities, a park and ride including parking for motor cycles, improved information and signage.

To complement these two initiatives the ELCRP intends to produce a high quality Z-card guide to walking, cycling, car sharing and using public transport to get to/from the station.  The guide will accentuate the benefits of using ways of getting to/from the station other than by car.  Accrington benefits from a number of cycle routes including two that pass directly by the station and also from a number of well signposted walking routes. Despite the position of the station there are convenient and frequent bus services a short walk away and it is expected that a new bus station will be opened closer to the railway station during 2012.
The guide will be supported by posters that will be displayed in the station booking office and close to the exit points from the station.  In addition, careful attention will be given to ensure that good signage is in place at the station.
As one of the pilots for the national Station Travel Plan initiative ATOC (the Association of Train Operating Companies) undertook a survey of passengers arriving and departing from the station over parts of two days to find out amongst other things how they arrived or departed from it.  The survey revealed that walking was the most popular means covering 57% of surveyed passengers followed by 15% using a bus service.  However, there were no passengers cycling, motorcycling or using the existing (and inadequate) park and ride.  Based on these findings the proposed guide will complement the local targets that have been set by the Accrington station travel plan partnership to increase cycling, use of connecting buses etc to/from the station.  The guide will also seek to encourage yet further people to walk to/from the station

What are you proposing to use the money for?
The funding will be used to produce a high quality Z-card guide

Total cost of the project £6500

Was the project successful ? (April 2010)
The Accrington Station Travel 'Z' card Guide has been produced and is being distributed.
Eden Business Analysis has been commissioned to undertake two surveys at the station in June and November to see if travel behaviour for journeys to/from the station has changed since the original benchmarking survey was undertaken by STG for ATOC.  The original survey was carried out as part of the National Pilot Station Travel Plan project.

Did the project run to the timescales envisaged?
Not quite!!  The design company was harder work than envisaged and this has delayed getting the Z-card to print.  The key issue was around the design of the front cover which is still a compromise over what I wanted to see!  This consequently delayed the finalisation of the design and thus delayed printing. In addition, seeking comments from a range of people who needed to approve changes also took longer than planned.

Did the costs turn out as expected - if not why not?
Costs are as per budget.  I had made an allowance for additional design work knowing this could be a complicated process. 
The design cost was £1,960 against original estimate of £1,150 (+£810). 
Print cost is £3,789.  Distribution, including in local newspaper and poster design and printing: £750.

What do you think was good about this project?
The concept is good and will be beneficial and link in well with the Eco Station project.

What lessons can be learned from this project?
Choose the design company with care especially where creative work is required.

Would it be appropriate to do a similar project on your route or another route?
Yes – all medium to large stations need one!

 

What are you trying to achieve?
Our aim is to assist the Friends of Crediton Station complete their ten year plan for the station and to launch a marketing campaign to promote travel by train to Crediton.  This will also help support the Crediton Station Tea Rooms.

What are you proposing to use the money for?
Back in 2001, the Friends of Crediton Station launched an action plan for improving the station.  Their aim has been make the station more attractive to passengers by recreating the feel of a London & South Western Railway station, as the station was until 1923, with authentic style paintwork, signs, lighting  and new flowerbeds and planting.

Much has already been done over the years and the aim of this project is to help the Friends complete the action plan as far as is possible and then launch a marketing campaign to promote travel to Crediton by train.

Lighting - Network Rail recently installed new lighting at the station and, after much discussion, included heritage style features such as attractive lamps and painting the posts in colours to match the L&SWR paint scheme used throughout the rest of the station at the behest of the Friends and agreed by First Great Western.

Signs - First Great Western have also agreed that the signing can be replaced with  L & SWR style signs,   A schedule has been drawn up and agreed.

Marketing campaign – a new “Visit Crediton” leaflet will be produced (20,000) and distributed through stations, tourist information centres and other suitable venues.  Station posters will also be produced and a press launch held.

The leaflet will also promote the Crediton Station Tea Rooms and will include an offer at the Tea Rooms for passengers.

Total cost of the project £27500

What are you trying to achieve?

EVRDC are committed to promoting the line to the community and to visitors.

In August, Whitby is inundated with visitors. EVRDC want to encourage these visitors to travel around the Esk Valley by sustainable means and encourage ‘Days Out’ along the rail route. The idea is to provide ideas on where to go whilst visiting the area by providing information on places of interest accessible from the railway

There are many independent artists’ studios along the route which would benefit from improved promotion. EVRDC wish to promote the line as an environmentally sustainable means of accessing these studios in and around the North yorkshire Moors National Park .

What are you proposing to use the money for?

1. The proposal is to produce an arts and crafts leaflet showcasing the many studios along the Esk Valley Railway route. The national park and Whitby area is rich in artists and craftsmen inspired by the landscape. I have already identified more than enough studios and museums to warrant an interesting and informative leaflet.
Having researched similar leaflets already on the market, I have found that these concentrate on the coastal and Ryedale area, with little if any, emphasis on this unique valley. .
Financial contributions from featured organisations will be pursued to offset costs of the project.

EVRDC will produce and distribute the leaflet to tourism providers and to the studios themselves. It will be downloadable from our website or can be posted as hardcopy on request.

2. To also produce an updated Rail Ale Trail leaflet to complement the current Heritage Places to Visit leaflet and the Arts & Crafts leaflet.9above

3.To provide a pocket railway timetable with Northern Rail services one side and North Yorkshire Moors Railway steam hauled train services on the reverse. It would be simplified down to the major stopping points along the lines and highlighting connections between Northern and NYMR services.

 

Total cost of Project £3500

 

Was the project successful? (April 2010)

The Rail Ale Trail leaflet was produced for distribution at Easter 2010, the pocket timetable and Arts and crafts leaflet is now schedule for completion in May 2010.

First impressions are that the Rail Ale Guide has been well received.

 

Download Leaflet front Download leaflet inside

 

What are you trying to achieve?
Our aim is to use the fact that a good service ran on all our local lines during last week’s bad weather to encourage more people to try the train.
We also aim to gain greater awareness of the fact that trains will generally continue running through periods of snow and ice, even if many local roads are closed and bus services suspended.

What are you proposing to use the money for?
We would place adverts in each of the seventeen local newspapers which cover areas served by the six branch lines we work on.  These adverts would appear during weeks commencing 17 and 24 January 2010

Total cost of Project £3500

Was the project successful? (May 2010)
Our aim was to use the fact that a good service ran on all our local lines during January 2010's bad weather to encourage more people to try the train.
We also aimed to gain greater awareness of the fact that our local trains will generally continue running through periods of snow and ice, even if many l roads are closed and bus services suspended.
It is hard to know whether we achieved our aim but the adverts were very well received by First Great Western and rail user groups throughout our area.
Rail use on the Devon & Cornwall Community Rail routes grew during February
We will not know whether these adverts have helped change perceptions in the local media until the next spell of similar weather.

What do you think was good about this project?
This project allowed us to give a lot of publicity to the fact that rail services ran well during the bad weather, something that the media had generally not done themselves.

 

What are you trying to achieve?
The purpose of this project is two fold.  We are trying to set up a static placement with the Avon and Somerset Probation Service to ensure that a group is situated at the station at least one day every week.  It is to improve the station environment by clearing the entrances/exits to the station, two of which are very overgrown with vegetation and impacts on the overall safety aspects at the station (maintenance of these entrances/exits fall between Network Rail and First Great Western and in the overall day to day running of the station do not rank high on the list of priorities but do have a considerable impact on the station)  In addition to clearing these areas the Probation Service will also assist the Eastside Roots, the community garden centre, with some of their heavier tasks, as well as assisting with the general upkeep of the station, such as the newly installed flower beds.

The station has benefited greatly as a result of the Garden Centre being on site and we have seen a reduction in reported crime, so much so that it is hoped that in the next few months there is a real possibility that the station will be successful in an application for Secured Station Status, at one time this would not have been thought a realistic prospect.  Thus if we are able to secure funding for the hire of a portaloo on a long term basis, the planned clear up can only help with such a bid.

What are you proposing to use the money for?
The money will be used to hire a portaloo, which is one of the essential requirements when working with the Probation Service under the unpaid work scheme.

This work will also coincide with the proposed increased Sunday Service on the Line from May 2010 and the improvement in the station environment will hopefully encourage even more use of the station.

Was the project successful against the original success criteria?
Yes, the station areas were cleared and rubbish and vegetation was collected free of charge by Bristol City Council.

What are you trying to achieve?
Our aim is to extend and develop the long running Rail Ale Trail marketing promotion we have been running through production of a paid for South West Rail Ale Guide.
This would be a pocket guide to approximately 150 high quality pubs near railway stations in an area south and west of Bristol.  The guide would include all the pubs on the our Devon & Cornwall Rail Ale Trails and would advertise the trails (and branch lines)  too, encouraging people to take part and collect the free souvenirs.
The guide would be a paid-for publication, sold through featured pubs, tourist information centres, local bookshops and other outlets.  We would aim too to sell the guide through CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) avenues. 

The guide would also be featured on our website, www.railaletrail.com, with dedicated news and information pages.  

This would be a completely new venture for us.   If successful, we would look at other extensions into paid-for publication.

The guide would have the spin-off of promoting travel on other Community Rail lines in the South West.

What are you proposing to use the money for?
We would use the money to produce and market the guide (print run 4,000, retail price £5) as well as extending and developing www.railaletrail.com
The book is being researched and produced by Heckford Ltd - John Hummel.

Total cost of project £10000

Was the project successful? (April 2010)
While produced, the books have not yet gone on sale.  Our target is a minimum of 1,000 sales

Did the project run to the timescales envisaged?
This is the first guide of its type and has inevitably taken longer to research and compile than originally envisaged.

What do you think was good about this project?
The book is a really nice guide to good pubs within reasonable walking distance of stations throughout the South West and extends our current Rail Ale Trails.  I am pleased too that, in extending as far as Bath and Salisbury, it also covers the other two South West CRPs

What do you think went wrong with this project?
Nothing has gone wrong as such, simply that, being the first, no-one could accurately predict actually how long the guide was going to take to research and compile.

The guide can be purchased from ....

What are you trying to achieve?
The project is to implement a marketing campaign to promote usage of the Pendle Connect bus & rail through ticket introduced in 2009 in partnership with Transdev (Burnley & Pendle) and Northern Rail.  The project will aim to inform the target market which consists of students travelling to the local colleges at Burnley and Blackburn and UCLAN in Preston and commuters travelling from the Transdev Pendle 7 area via Colne, Nelson and Brierfield stations.  Through this campaign the CRP also expects that awareness of Pendle Connect will develop among occasional users.

The project will consist of
The design and printing of an eye catching Double Royal poster for display at railway stations, the new Nelson Bus and Rail Interchange and at other of rail locations.  The posters will be encapsulated to protect them from damp etc.
The design and printing of 100 A4 size eye catching posters for display on local Transdev Burnley & Pendle buses, community notice boards, at colleges (especially Burnley and Blackburn colleges), libraries and other suitable locations within the Pendle area.
The design and printing of 5,000 1/3 A4 size flyer leaflets for display in the leaflet racks on Transdev buses, at Nelson Interchange, libraries, colleges etc.  This will set out details of Pendle Connect, how it can be purchased, what it can be used for and the savings that can be made.

To assess its impact of this campaign surveys will be commissioned during April and September 2010.

Total project cost £4000

Was the project successful? (April 2010)
The project was completed and samples of the poster (used for both the double royal and A4 sizes) and leaflet are attached.  As the design cost for the flyer leaflet was slightly less than the original quote the print run was increased from 5,000 to 10,000.

The posters/leaflets have been distributed to Transdev for display on relevant buses and posters/leaflets to Northern Rail for use at selected stations in the Pendle area.  Other posters have been displayed at off rail locations in Pendle where suitable sites exist.

Monitoring will be undertaken at the regular two monthly ELCRP/CLCRP Joint Marketing Meetings.

What do you think was good about this project?
The co-operation of Transdev the local bus operator who gave encouragement and were the initial spur to the project.

 

What are you trying to achieve?
There has been no specific marketing campaign aimed at making residents or visitors aware of the attractions along the South Fylde Line for over 10 years.  The SFL CRP is therefore planning to initiate a two phase marketing campaign to remedy this situation in partnership with Blackpool Borough Council and Northern Rail. 

Phase 1 and the basis of this application will see the design, printing and distribution of a high quality 12 page full colour, A5 sized brochure.  This will be used to promote the line through tourist information centres, the information network managed by Lancashire County Council, at promotional events and through the distribution networks of Northern Rail.

Phase 2 of the campaign will see the production by Northern Rail of an added value leaflet, the design and production of a pop up promotional banner and a programme of promotional events at on and off line locations aimed at increasing awareness of the line and its attractions and attracting people to try the line. Particular locations will include Preston and Manchester.

What are you proposing to use the money for?
The CRDF will be used to contribute to the design, printing and distribution of the 50,000 glossy brochures.  This will be supported by Blackpool Borough Council and the South Fylde Line CRP with in help assistance from Fylde Borough Council.

Total cost of project £6500

Was the project successful? (April 2010)
Yes - the design of the brochure has been completed and printing is underway with distribution to follow.
The brochure is currently being printed and the launch etc to be arranged.  It is too early to say how the enhanced publicity for the line will affect ridership but this will be monitored by the South Fylde Line CRP.

Did the project run to the timescales envisaged?
Not quite – for the following reasons:

• it was a late entry due to a possible under spend in the CRDF;
• the image library was found to be lacking suitable images of the area so a photographer had to ride the line/visit the towns/villages to obtain suitable images.

What do you think was good about this project?
The ability to produce a high quality publication to promote the line.

Would it be appropriate to do a similar project on your route or another route?
Yes – we have plans for a promotion on the Wigan to Southport line (not designated) and Preston to Ormskirk (awaiting designation).

Is there anything else that would be useful to pass on to other CRPs arising from this project?
Build up an image library you never know when it will be needed.

 

What are you trying to achieve?
EVRDC are committed to increasing revenue and promoting the Esk Valley Railway line to the local community and encourage tourism in the area. Providing information on traveling by rail in an easy to use format which appeals to present and future users is of paramount importance.
During the summer season, Whitby and District is inundated with visitors. EVRDC want to encourage these visitors to travel around the Esk Valley by sustainable means and encourage ‘Days Out’ along the rail route. We want to provide as much information on places of interest, events and activities as possible. We want to engage with the community, particularly young people who respond to technology as an effective means of communication.

What are you proposing to use the money for?
Our website is the ideal medium for promotion of the area. EVRDC intend to build on the website presence and promote the line via video blogs 'Digital Stories' produced by ourselves and community members to highlight the advantages and opportunities of rail travel. We will be working with Ryedale Folk Museum, who are currently producing ‘Digital Stories’ to promote their tourism destination.
The grant will be used to purshase equipment to carry out the project.

Total cost of Project £1500

Was the project successful? (April 2010)

So far yes. The equipment has been purchased. The plan now is to record passenger experiences during our 2010 promotional events. There are two events in April 2010 which will be ideal start for this. The resulting podcasts will be uploaded on to the website shortly afterwards.

 

What are you trying to achieve?
To continue to raise local awareness and sustain the increase in passenger numbers the line is delivering.  The focus would initially be during February and March 2010, when there is a lull in local travel on the line but with a longer term aim of gaining more regular travellers.  This would be achieved by adverts in local newspapers and community newsletters.

The local stations (Duffield to Matlock inclusive) have seen significant increases in passengers in the last 2 years: 21% increase in 2008/9 compared to 2007/8 and 53% PO1-10 2009/10 compared to 2008/9.   The increases have varied by station with increases of over 50% at Duffield, Belper, Ambergate, Matlock Bath and Matlock but Cromford and Whatstandwell have only achieved passenger growth of 15% in 2009/10 (PO1-10).  It is understood that this lower increase at these stations is due to the fact that the hourly service was only introduced in December 2009.  To additionally target these local communities in and around Cromford and Whatstandwell it is proposed that local adverts are produced to go in a number of local community/Parish newsletters.  These local newsletters are delivered door to door in each community.

What are you proposing to use the money for?
The funding will contribute towards local newspaper adverts in the Belper News and Matlock Mercury and adverts in a number of local newsletters in the Cromford and Whatstandwell area.  The Partnership has had a number of local press releases featured in these newspapers and community newsletters informing local people of various service improvements.  The latest features occurred in December 2009, following various timetable improvements.  There have also been some positive local newspaper stories during the snow about the trains running well on the line.  The Partnership would like to continue to reinforce the community rail message by placing some adverts in the local papers and newsletters.   The focus would be marketing the excellent journey time and value fares into Derby, to make non and infrequent users aware of the train service, the travel time and value fares, thus encouraging them to use the train for the first time or more regularly.   

The closeness of the communities (13 miles between Matlock and Duffield) means that advertising in the Belper News and Matlock Mercury targets all the communities along and surrounding the line.  The newspaper adverts would be a short term activity (4 weeks in each in the Matlock and Belper papers) whereas it is proposed that the adverts in the local newsletters are a longer term initiative.  Due to the lower costs of advertising in the community newsletters (most of which are quarterly) it is proposed that adverts are placed at the outset for 12 months.  If the adverts prove successful in the Cromford and Whatstandwell areas than it is proposed during 2010/11 to take out similar adverts in other local community newsletters for example the monthly Duffield Scene and quarterly Darley Dale Update and Wirksworth Community Fayre.  Longer term the Partnership would hopefully continue these local newsletter adverts and would be able to fund them from our own Partnership funds.  The Partnership would continue to send good news stories to the relevant local newsletters to support these adverts.

Total Cost of the project £2357.77

Was the project successful?
The first newspaper advert appeared 4 March and fortnightly in the Matlock Mercury until 15 April (4 adverts) and fortnightly in the Belper news from 10 March until 21 April (4 adverts).
Additionally to promote the new hourly service in Cromford and Whatstandwell adverts were placed in local parish/community newsletters.  Adverts appeared in the March edition of the Cromford Newsletter; April editions of the Whatstandwell News and Middleton by Wirksworth village newsletter and will appear in the June edition of the Crich Area News (the deadline for the April edition was missed.  Due to the low cost utilising these newsletters, advertising space has been purchased for 12 months in these publications, 3 of which are a quarterly newsletter and the Middleton newsletter monthly.  

The project achieved its aims as the planned adverts were all commissioned. 
It was decided to extend the project using Partnership funds to advertise in two other newsletters (Darley Dale Update and Duffield Scene) and to produce DR station posters of the adverts.  The project therefore achieved beyond its initial aims.
It is difficult to determine the effectiveness of the campaign at this stage, given the short timescale between the adverts being placed and the available passenger figures which are up to 31 March 2010.  The criteria stated in the bid that monitoring would be using February, March and April passenger data. Realistically data for May and June should also be assessed to assess the impacts of the adverts.   Analysis of the origin data for local stations shows that patronage has tailed off in recent months to 30+% growth compared to 50+% period growth during the summer and autumn.  A slight drop in passenger journeys occurred in March 2010 but it is believed this is predominately weather related and due to very high number of journeys in March 2009.  
The adverts referred readers to find out more at www.eastmidlandstrains/derwentvalleyline  Website usage data from East Midlands Trains shows that site usage is consistently higher during March and April than since the web page was created in October 2009.

What do you think was good about this project?
The funding toward this initial project led to a more extensive project than was planned with longer term outputs and consequently longer term outcomes envisaged.  The adverts were easy to reproduce for each community/station and extra adverts were placed in the Duffield Scene monthly for 12 months from April 2010 and in the quarterly Darley Dale update from April 2010.  The adverts were also converted into DR station posters for display at stations and roadside entrances to continue the message.

 

   

Barton to Cleethorpes Heritage and Tourism Boards
The Partnership proposes to purchase and site at all of its stations Tourism and Heritage notice boards in partnership with Northern Rail, North and North East Lincolnshire Councils.  The boards will be etched in stainless steel and depict points of interest along the line thus increasing the visitor numbers generating vibrancy amongst local businesses. 

Was the project successful? (April 2010)
The BCCRP has completed the artwork and the boards have been completed and are stored waiting for the contractor to install them.

Did the project run to the timescales envisaged?
There has been a slight delay in the positioning of the boards due to the contractor having a backlog of work initially caused by the bad weather over the winter.

What do you think was good about this project?
The Boards depict points of interest along the line that can be enjoyed by both local people and tourists.  The development of the boards promoted consultation between partners.

What lessons can be learned from this project?
The preparation of the art-work and content of the wording are essential.  It is also important to engage and involve key partners and specialists.

Would it be appropriate to do a similar project on your route or another route?
Yes.  The boards are an excellent marketing tool and will be seen by local people and visitors to the area.

Is there anything else that would be useful to pass on to other CRPs arising from this project?
The boards are a good source of information for people visiting or touring the area.  They are an excellent marketing tool for the line and match information on the BCCRP web site and line guide demonstrating continuity in the image the BCCRP are presenting.

What are you trying to achieve?
Our aim is to provide a better welcome for rail passengers at St Ives by providing an attractive new freestanding town map at the station in partnership with St Ives Town Council.

What are you proposing to use the money for?
The money will be used to provide a large attractive new map of St Ives in its own freestanding cast iron structure close to the station entrance.

Total cost of this project £ 2,800

Was the project successful? (April 2010)
Success was achieving the project in the timescale and unfortunately this hasn’t proved possible.  The structure has been completed but has not yet been installed.  It will be up by the end of May.

What do you think was good about this project?
It’s a good partnership with St Ives Town Council who have organised the map and managed the project

 

What are you trying to achieve?
Our aim is to promote walks from Devon & Cornwall branch line stations regionally and across First Great Western’s network.
In particular, we want to encourage more visits to www.trailsfromthetrack.com and more requests for the three free walks books and packs we have available.
The promotion will also encourage sales of the updated Maritime Line Walks Pack, produced in partnership with Carrick Ramblers and for which a charge is made.
This project builds on the success of last year’s Tarka Line Walks booklet and Cotehele projects.

What are you proposing to use the money for?
The money will be used to produce a new leaflet (30,000 copies) promoting  walks from the railway in Devon and Cornwall and particularly our trailsfromthetrack.com website and the available walks booklets and packs.
A key element of the leaflet would be a sample walk (picking up on the example used in the leaflet produced to promote the Tarka Line Walks booklet).  
A good number of the requests we have had for that booklet have mentioned the sample walk (around Yeoford) and often people have done that walk, just from the leaflet, before calling or e-mailing for the booklet.
The sample walk would be the one from Calstock station to Cotehele.
These leaflets will be distributed primarily through First Great Western stations, Tourist Information Centres, libraries, Council One Stop Shops.
Thirty station posters would also be produced and distributed and the leaflet will be available as a download from www.trailsfromthetrack.com.

Total cost of project £2400

Was the project successful ? (April 2010)
Our aim is to promote walks from Devon & Cornwall branch line stations regionally and across First Great Western’s network.
In particular, we want to encourage more visits to www.trailsfromthetrack.com and more requests for the three free walks books and packs we have.
This was a late bid and, while the leaflets and posters were produced in time, they are only now being distributed so we will not be able to gauge their success for a few months

The leaflets and posters were produced by the deadline but, as mentioned above, they are just now being distributed so it is too early to tell.

What do you think was good about this project?
By including the Calstock – Cotehele walk, the leaflet included in this project builds on last year’s DCRDF Tarka Line Walks and Cotehele promotion projects

 

What are you trying to achieve?
Our aim is to promote access to the Eden Project via Luxulyan station and the walking routes researched by the Project’s Sustainable Transport Co-ordinator.
An additional aim is to build a new relationship between the Partnership and the Eden Project which will hopefully lead to further projects.
This project builds on the success of last year’s Calstock to Cotehele project.  However, at 2 ½ miles, the walk is longer than the Cotehele one.  There are more hills too but given the whole ethos of the Eden Project, we feel the walk will have an appeal.

What are you proposing to use the money for?
The money will be used to produce a new leaflet (35,000 copies) promoting travel to the Eden Project by train to Luxulyan station and the two walking routes between the station and Project.
These leaflets will be distributed primarily through First Great Western stations and Tourist Information Centres.
Twenty station posters would also be produced and distributed and the leaflet will be available as a download from www.trailsfromthetrack.com.

Total cost of project £1600

Was the project successful ? (April 2010)
Partially.  The first success criteria was achieving the project in the first place.  We did get the leaflet done in time, but not the posters unfortunately.

Did the project run to the timescales envisaged?
Yes, apart from not managing to get the posters done in time.………….

What do you think was good about this project?
It was the result of a new partnership between ourselves, the Eden Project and Focal, Friends of the Atlantic Coast Line who were key in helping to get it going.