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Projects funded in the financial year 2010/11 have been. Esk Valley Railway Information Project. - Esk Valley Railway Dev.Co. What are you trying to achieve? Total cost of Project £12000.00 Was the project successful? (Jan2011) Did the project run to the timescale's envisaged?
North Walsham Station Travel Plan - Bittern Line CRP What are you trying to achieve? Develop station travel plan methodology to suit a typical application at a small unstaffed station on a CRP line, including use of CRP volunteers to undertake research and help shape the resultant Action Plan What are you proposing to use the money for? Total cost of project £10000 Was the project successful ? The North Walsham Station Travel Plan adopts many of the established practices of station travel planning that have emerged from early work done by National Express and within the ATOC-sponsored national pilot projects that were set up in 2008. However, one of the objectives of this project in the national context is to determine how the methodology can be adapted to suit any location on a rural community railway, where low cost / high value solutions are very important. This report marks the end of the all-important first stage of the project, in which we have studied the local circumstances influencing use of the railway to and from North Walsham and have engaged extensively with the local community through the survey. We believe that for the first time in any station travel plan, we have been able to secure the views of a representative sample of both users and non-users, which will now enable us to structure an effective Action Plan for implementation over the next few years. At a time when public sector finances will be increasingly constrained, but equally a time when opportunities may arise through local development and the renewal of the rail franchise, it will be very important to have local priorities clearly defined. What do you think was good about this project? We have engaged extensively with the local community through the survey. There was a very high response rate to the survey (more than 1,200 responses) and an excellent level of interest. What do you think went wrong with this project? We have been fortunate that there has not been anything that went significantly wrong with the project. In fact, the project was so successful in raising awareness of the station and it’s role in the community that managing increasing expectations is going to prove challenging at a time of reduced budgets. What lessons can be learned from this project?
Would it be appropriate to do a similar project on your route or another route? Yes – it would be appropriate to replicate this on another route. The approach taken can be the same.
Improvements to the bridleway linking Shepley Station and Shelley village - Penistone Line Partnership What are you trying to achieve? Provision of improved access between Shelley Village and Shepley Station. What are you proposing to use the money for? To assist in the cost resurfacing the footpath that runs between Shepley Station and Shelley Village. Currently the footpath is muddy underfoot, discouraging the public from using it. This footpath is the most direct route (5 minutes walk) from Shelley Village, which has 3059 inhabitants (source 2001 census). Total cost of project £18000 Was the project successful against the original success criteria? As part of the development surveys of potential users was undertaken. At this stage it became clear that a similar project at Denby Dale would give a better return on investment at this stage. Therefore with agreement with the DCRDF partners the project was move to Denby Dale. To date the new path has fond great favor with users of the station. A further survey of users of Denby Dale station will be carried out in Sept 2011 to ascertain usage. Did the project run to the timescale's envisaged? Yes Did the costs turn out as expected - if not why not? No the project came in £12000 under budget.
Community Ambassadors - East Lancashire CRP & Clitheroe Line CRP What were you trying to achieve ? The idea for Community Ambassadors comes from a project initiated by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and outlined at the 'Working with Diverse Groups' conference organised by ACoRP in May 2008. What are you proposing to use the money for? The funding will be used to contribute towards:
Total cost of project £21500 Was the project successful against the original success criteria? So far yes, Northern Rail and the CRPs have delivered what was promised. There will be further developments as the project is on-going. Perhaps a suitable subject for part of an ACoRP conference – especially as the ELCRP & CLCRP have also encouraged the setting up of school ambassadors as part of the Brian the Bull project. The employment of the two Lancashire Community Ambassadors including training. Did the project run to the timescales envisaged? Yes – no issues here. Did the costs turn out as expected - if not why not? Yes – no issues here. What do you think was good about this project? The most important aspect of this project is forging links with the local community and especially with people unused to rail travel. Community work is generally slow but the Community Ambassadors did have a bit of a head start due to the work of the CRP through its school project and Friends of Stations groups. What lessons can be learned from this project? The lessons will emerge as the supporting research project commissioned by Northern Rail evaluates the effectiveness of the Ambassadors. However, working with disadvantaged/excluded members of the community is certainly introducing new people to rail travel and helping to break down barriers within the community. As mentioned earlier it may be worth setting out the results of the project in part of a future ACoRP conference – as it is totally applicable to other CRPs.
Developing New Markets - East Lancashire Day Ranger- East Lancs Line CRP & Clitheroe Line CRP What are you trying to achieve? The East Lancashire Day Ranger (ELDR) was introduced in 2009 as a partnership between the CLCRP & ELCRP, Transdev (Burnley & Pendle and Lancashire United) and Northern Rail. Ticket sales are running at an average of 28 per period and this campaign is aimed to see this increase by at least 100%. This will be measured by the period end sales from Northern Rail and Transdev. The ELDR is fairly unique in being a multi modal ticket that can be bought either on the bus or train. The aim is to develop a motivational marketing campaign that will develop increased awareness of the multi modal East Lancashire Day Ranger. This campaign will be linked to the introduction of new bus services within the scope of the ELDR, a further price freeze in 2011 and the introduction of voucher incentives. To enhance awareness the new campaign will be developed by Transdev the local bus operator using techniques it has successfully developed to promote its key quality bus routes in East Lancashire. A key aspect of this campaign is the involvement of local attractions in East Lancashire and North Yorkshire through the voucher incentive campaign. Total Cost of project £1787.00 Was the project successful against the original success criteria? (March 2011) The project has achieved what was set out in the application as follows:
Did the project run to the timescales envisaged? It had been hoped to complete the project by February, 2011. However, it has taken slightly longer to develop mainly due to the time needed for Transdev to obtain the motivational vouchers. The leaflet has now been printed and the poster is underway – no specific launch has been planned but an awareness campaign will be maintained during 2011.
The use of the ticket will be reported in Nov 2011.
Medway Valley Station Walk-Card - Kent CRP What are you trying to achieve? What are you proposing to use the money for? Total cost of project £22000 Was the project successful? The walk Card pack was completed on time. They have been distributed across a wide area. Feedback mechanism have been incorporated within the packs and via the Kent CRP website. The first feedback will be reported in Nov 2011.
Developing New Markets - Padiham Greenway - East Lancs Line CRP What are you trying to achieve? A new circular walking and cycling route has been developed in East Lancashire known as the Padiham Greenway which links to the River Calder Greenway and the towpath of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal to form a circular route. The Greenway also has a 'branch' to the 17th century Gawthorpe Hall a National Trust property famous for its furniture and the nationally important Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth textile collection. The route has been designed to create as far as possible an off road route for pedestrians and cyclists. From Padiham the route uses the former railway line which has been properly surfaced and is lit for most of the route. The Padiham Greenway links to the East Lancashire line at three locations namely Hapton, Rose Grove and Burnley Barracks. Whilst the Greenway has been developed mainly for recreational use it does form a secure cycle route from Padiham to the East Lancashire line and will therefore be useful to commuters. This project is about developing new markets for the East Lancashire Line linked to the Greenway. Padiham is about 2 miles from the East Lancashire line and up to now it has been difficult for walkers and cyclists to access the line safely. This route changes that and the ELCRP wants to develop the use of the route for recreational uses and also as an alternative way for residents in Padiham to access the line – especially cyclists. What are you proposing to use the money for?
Was the project successful? The project has provided attractive information panels and maps at Hapton, Rose Grove and Burnley Barracks stations showing the Padiham Greenway, related links, and how to access it from the station. Cycle parking has been provided at Rose Grove but security concerns have prevented new cycle parking facilities being provided at Hapton.
Digger Books – the Tamar Valley Line…..a school/University/rail collaboration - Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership What are you trying to achieve? Digger Books is an initiative run by the University of Plymouth. The idea is to use the process and experience of publishing a children’s book (to be sold alongside other children’s books) as a experience based learning project for University students and school pupils. Our aim is to have a book produced about the Tamar Valley Line, produced by pupils from a school reasonably close to the line and University of Plymouth students. This would be the third to be done – one has been completed on Devonport and its regeneration (“The Day a Digger Ate Our Wall”) and a second has recently been published, “We Love Looe”, in partnership with Looe Community College. A school has already been found – Drake Primary School which is very close to the line in Keyham, western Plymouth. We have already begun liaising with the school and project group and have led two school trips out to the Tamar Valley on the train. Both involved community members of the Tamar Valley Line Forum. The book and associated publicity will promote travel on the line and we hope too that working with both Drake Primary School and the University students will encourage families and students to explore the line more themselves. A children’s author, Helen Greathead, who was involved in the Horrible Histories books, will be engaged to mentor both the students and children. What are you proposing to use the money for? The money would be used to publish 2,000 childrens’ books which would be sold through local outlets. Total cost of project £14500.00 Was the project successful? Our aim was to have a children’s book produced promoting the Tamar Valley Line to be sold through local outlets and that this book would be produced by a partnership of a local school, the University of Plymouth and the local Tamar Valley community. We have achieved this. The school visits to the line and project visits to the school have all been achieved. The book has been distributed to local schools to use as a resource. Follow up data on usage of the line will be available later in 2011
What do you think was good about this project? This is a fabulous collaborative project involving schoolchildren, university students and a number of local Tamar Valley people involved with Community Rail.
Using the 150th Anniversary of the Looe Valley Line to increase use of the line and involve the community more - Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership What are you trying to achieve? Our aim is to use this year’s 150th anniversary of the Looe Valley Line to increase the number of passengers on the line this Winter and next Spring and also to use the anniversary to involve the community more in the line. We also plan to fulfil a local community aspiration to have the station name “LOOE” in large rocks in the (to be cleared area) opposite the station platform as a lasting legacy of the anniversary. What are you proposing to use the money for? We will use the money to publicise the 150th anniversary across the First Great Western network, through tourist information centres and in the local press – this will involve production of 25,000 leaflets, plus press adverts. The leaflet will publicise a number of linked events. We will also organise a station fete in the car park at Looe station with a wide range of activities.. This will be held on 11 September 2010 (the anniversary of the first passenger trains). A ceremony commemorating the anniversary will be held that morning with the Mayors of Looe & Liskeard. Liskeard Silver Band will travel (and play) on the train and play at the event. In addition, we will organise a 150th Anniversary Rail Ale Trail – to be publicised in the leaflet. We will also engage Network Rail to clear the area opposite the platform, level as necessary and create the “LOOE” name with white painted rocks. This will be set in a border, on matting to resist weeds and chippings will surround the main lettering. As well as this, there will be a special offer on the line for a month beginning on Monday 27 December (the actual 150th anniversary). This will be linked to the line’s beginnings as a freight railway when passengers were occasionally carried (in wagons) but could only be charged for their “goods” – umbrella, hat, bag etc. Was the project successful? Our aim was to use the 150th anniversary of the line to increase the number of passengers and involve the community more. We also wanted to fulfil a local community aspiration to have the station name “Looe” in large rocks in the area opposite the platform We achieved all this. The original success criteria was for a 10% increase in journeys between the end of August and end of March. So far, with March’s figures still to come, the increase is 9.1% (3029 extra journeys) What do you think was good about this project? It had lots of different elements, involved a lot of people, got good publicity for the line and increased passenger numbers. Handled the right way, anniversaries are always good pegs for promoting today’s railway and increasing the number of people traveling.
……………………………. Longton High School artwork posters for Longton station - North Staff Line CRP What are you trying to achieve? We want to deliver a community project at Longton station (Stoke-on-Trent) that will promote the Crewe-Derby rail service. The project will enable the creation of a series of community art posters promoting local rail travel and also illustrating the environmental benefits of rail travel. The posters will be displayed to improve the appearance of the 4 walls of the underpass at Longton station (within the TOC station lease area), adjacent to the station car park, which is also a thoroughfare linking local shopping areas. This project should also serve to encourage greater use of the local rail service by making a currently run-down area of the station more attractive to potential passengers. What are you proposing to use the money for? Fee for all art materials used in the project and the teaching services of a local professional artist Anthony Hammond (who has experience working with the Youth Service, local groups and local councils on community art projects) to lead 4x 7 hour sessions with GCSE art students at Longton High School to create 12 double-royal (DR) size art posters to display in fitted poster cases on the underpass walls.
The project will add value to the students’ learning by giving them the opportunity to work with a professional artist to create art to improve their community. It fits within an ‘Identity’ theme in the High School curriculum, whereby students have a focus to learn about and appreciate their local area and to work on projects to improve it. The posters created will be displayed over a 12-month period. The Partnership plans to then involve another year group at the school, other local primary school and/or a community group each year to create new posters so continuing to refresh the display Was the project successful? Our aim was to deliver a community project at Longton station (in Stoke-on-Trent) to promote the Crewe-Derby rail service through a series of art posters promoting local rail travel and also illustrating the environmental benefits of rail travel. What do you think was good about this project? The artwork has turned out brilliantly – the school is in a very deprived area of Stoke-on-Trent and does not have a good reputation academically, yet because the professional artist commissioned has a good track record of working with youth groups, he has helped the students produce some excellent work, which is a credit to the school.
Poacher Line Linear Walks Pack - Poacher Line CRP What are you trying to achieve? To increase passenger numbers traveling by train off peak between Skegness and Nottingham. The walks are linear between the stations to promote travel by train out or pack to the starting point of the walk. Provision as a pack will encourage travel along the length of the line and return visits. What are you proposing to use the money for? The design costs for each of the leaflets - printing costs will be met by East Midlands Trains and Nottingham shire County Council Was the project successful against the original success criteria? The leaflets will be distributed at the end of March 2011 so it is not possible to assess passenger numbers at present. These will be reviewed in Nov 2011 Did the costs turn out as expected - if not why not? Map artwork required for three leaflets; cost was not accounted for in original bid resulting in the design cost being higher than originally expected. What lessons can be learned from this project? Researching walking routes is time consuming and landowner permission will be required on routes that do not use public rights of way; this can take additional time to establish.
Poacher Line Station Area Information Boards - Poacher Line CRP What are you trying to achieve? We intend to achieve this by the installation of Welcome to posters showing travel maps and other local information in village centers. These will highlight how close the station is and the travel opportunities available. The boards will also act as oration points for visitors to the area. What do you intend to use the money for? Design and printing of 11 display posters and purchasing installation of the new boards. Was the project successful? March 2011 At the time of writing the project is running behind schedule. A update will be provided in July 2011 Lymington Rail Trail - Brockenhurst - Lymington CRP What are you trying to achieve? The Partnership and young people and families working on this project hope to achieve a number of outcomes. What are you proposing to use the money for?
Leaflets to show the trail to be distributed around stations and TIC’s in the South East Was the project successful against the original success criteria? (March 2011) The first stages workshops and artwork are complete. The considerable roadside works and panels are being finaised Summer 2011 Christmas shopping by train advertising campaign….. Tarka, Atlantic Coast, Tamar Valley and Looe Valley Lines What are you trying to achieve? We are trying to increase the number of passengers using four branch lines during November and December by promoting Christmas shopping trips by train.. What are you proposing to use the money for? We propose to run a series of press advertisements in appropriate local newspapers . Adverts would appear every week for four weeks, beginning w/c 15 November. Thirteen papers would be used – the Exeter Express & Echo, Exeter Times, Exmouth Journal, Mid Devon Advertiser, Dawlish Post and Teignmouth News – all promoting shopping trips to Barnstaple; the Tavistock Times, Cornish Times, Cornish Guardian (South East Cornwall) and Newquay Guardian – all promoting shopping trips to Plymouth and the Crediton Country Courier and Crediton Gazette promoting shopping trips to Barnstaple, Exeter and Plymouth.. The Crediton Country Courier is a fortnightly newspaper (we would go twice into this) so the total number of adverts would be fifty. Was the project successful? We were trying to increase the number of passengers using four branch lines during November and December by promoting Christmas shopping trips by train We did increase numbers, but not by as much as we had hoped. Was the project successful against the original success criteria? Sadly not. I had hoped for a 10% increase in the number of Off Peak Day Return tickets sold to Plymouth, Truro and Barnstaple from the targeted areas in Periods 9 and 10 (mid November to early January). The number of Off Peak Day Returns to Truro increased by 3.5%, to Plymouth by 5.3% and to Barnstaple by 5.6%. Did the project run to the timescales envisaged? Yes. We placed a series of four adverts in thirteen local newspapers beginning w/c 15 November. ……. What do you think was good about this project? Local newspapers are a very good way to reach local residents. Despite the Internet, circulation and readership is high in the communities they serve, particularly in the case of paid-for weekly newspapers. This campaign further raised the profile of the railway in these communities and increased numbers traveling, even if not by as much as we hoped. What do you think went wrong with this project? I am most definitely not blaming any kind of snow but it clearly did not help that the week leading up to Christmas itself was so heavily affected by snow. Trains largely ran well but roads, and particularly pavements, were treacherous and this will have discouraged people from additional shopping trips, even so close to Christmas. Looking at the sales figures from south Devon to Barnstaple, it strikes me that local people in this area don’t yet see Barnstaple as an alternative shopping destination.
Community Newsletter to promote use of the North Staffordshire Line - North Staffordshire CRP What are you trying to achieve? To promote use of the North Staffordshire Line (Crewe-Derby) route during Off Peak, and also GroupSave fares to encourage use of the service, particularly to visit local tourist attractions. What are you proposing to use the money for? The funds will be used to support the design, print and door-to-door distribution of a community newsletter including the new December 2010 timetable. The newsletter ‘Crewe-Derby Express’ will be in an A4, 2-page format, featuring passenger information on one side and the Crewe-Derby December 2010 timetable on the other. The newsletter will be delivered to 46,000 homes that are within one mile distance of the intermediate stations on the route - Alsager, Kidsgrove, Longport, Longton, Blythe Bridge, Uttoxeter and Tutbury and Hatton. Circulation is planned for during December 2010 to coincide with the introduction of the new rail timetable. It will also coincide with an annual seasonal dip in passenger footfall for the line; by promoting the service during this period across the whole area of the line to households within easy access of intermediate stations we hope to go some way towards reversing this trend. Was the project successful ? The project aimed to promote use of the Crewe-Derby service by distribution of a promotional newsletter including the Dec 2010 timetable and advertising the lowest fares and fare promotions.
Did the project run to the timescales envisaged? The design and print element went according to plan as it was managed over a long lead in time. Distribution of the newsletter was arranged for w/c 14 January as this was the best distribution slot available and we were advised not to mail during the Xmas period as this could prove less effective. What do you think was good about this project? We were delighted with the appearance and quality of the newsletter; as the first community newsletter for the route it was innovative; we were able to take advantage of East Midlands Trains established and well-experienced contacts in design, print and distribution to ensure the project was delivered professionally; my copy was translated into a clear and professional design; as part of the project we also had 1000 additional copies which I was able to distributed to TICs and display at staffed stations to secure further coverage.
Whitby Station Conservation Management Plan - Esk Valley Railway Development Company What are you trying to achieve? Whitby Station is a Grade II listed building. Since the refit in the 1990s, when Network Rail leased out commercial units, there has been little or no control over signage particularly to the exterior of the station. Added to this, difficulties have arisen when the Senior Franchise Operator has endeavored to replace the ‘Whitby’ sign. Other issues have arisen with promotional banners and external signage put up without the required planning permission or permission from the owners, Network Rail, which were also deemed unsuitable for the quality of the building. What are you proposing to use the money for? A Conservation Management Plan to be produced, with clear instructions on standards and who should be consulted for any proposed changes to the fabric of the building. Was the project successful ? Whitby Station is a Grade II listed building. The CMS has now has laid down clear guidelines and specifications for all aspects of the building envelope. There is a useful list of the relevant people to contact for guidance, particularly tenants, for any proposed changes to the fabric of the building in order to preserve the integrity of the building. There are photographs of the building detailing information on the current condition that will inform future development and to provide evidence of the condition of the station as it stands, should that evidence be required from a legal point of view. Was the project successful against the original success criteria? Yes. It also brought together all parties to discuss the importance of preserving such buildings and providing clear guidelines to tenants. It is hoped that this will be considered for other stations which could be easily overlooked in favour of more ‘prestigious’ stations. ACoRP Members and download the plan from the members section of this website.
DalesRail Developing New Markets - Clitheroe Line CRP Since its inception in 1975 DalesRail has successfully appealed to the walking market and in particular to the medium and long distance walker. Attempts have been made to broaden the appeal of DalesRail but this has mainly concentrated on trying to stimulate the leisure day out market but this has had limited success. The CLCRP in discussion with the Rail Ramblers has come to the view that it would be better to develop the core appeal of DalesRail which is the walking market and therefore look for new opportunities in this area. To this end the current DalesRail programme includes a series of short walks aimed at those who for whatever reason do not want to take part in one of the longer and/or more strenuous walks. The short walks have generally been themed taking in places of historic interest such as Barnard Castle/Bowes Museum or linked to special events such as the Armathwaite Garden Festival. These walks have so far only had a limited take up as many people still perceive DalesRail as being for the 'serious' walker. This is a perception that the CLCRP in partnership with the Rail Ramblers is determined to change in order to get to a new and potentially large market of short distance walkers/amblers/strollers. Through the project described here it is hoped to broaden the appeal of DalesRail to its core market and to bring in new users who want to enjoy the countryside but have low stamina levels which they want to/or have to build up and lack the confidence to go into the countryside without a helping hand. The CRP Officers and the Rail Ramblers are in contact with those responsible in local authorities and Primary Care Trust's for organizing the 'Stepping Out' and 'Walking for Health' programmes in their areas. These walks are specifically targeted at those who need to exercise more for a variety of reasons such as increasing obesity, morbidity and our increasing sedentary lifestyle. The trick is how to attract this market to DalesRail? There are three ways that we plan to develop this market.
What are you proposing to use the money for? To design and apply the train wrap to unit 156464 as described above. Northern Rail advise that a train wrap will last for at least 4 years and thus at £5,500 represents excellent value for money. Was the project successful? Yes – we have the wrap and named unit.
For 2011 the Lancashire Rail Ramblers have introduced new stepping out shorter walks which will be promoted to a new market that wants to enjoy the countryside but undertake less challenging walks that are not a race against time or the clock. Did the project run to the timescales envisaged? No. The project has taken considerably longer to complete than was planned for two main reasons:
Did the costs turn out as expected - if not why not? No. The additional design work has added a further £2,000 to the cost of the project. What do you think was good about this project? The project will enable the Partnership to effectively promote DalesRail to a totally new market. The market for shorter walks is growing and the opportunity for people to take part in a guided walk with an experienced walk leader offers an unparalleled way to enjoy the countryside in expert hands and get fit at the same time! It is hoped to link this development with a promotion through GP surgeries using the Life Channel. What do you think went wrong with this project? We had issues with the designer who seemed to get the idea of what was wanted when originally briefed but the interpretation of the brief was not what partners had in mind. After protracted discussions a new design was prepared and has formed the basis of the final design. The other aspect which has not gone to plan has been the ability to get unit 156464 released so that it can be cleaned and the wrap applied. As explained above the dire unit availability over the Christmas and New Year period has resulted in a significant delay to this aspect of the project.
Lakes Line Website Development - Lakes line CRP What are you trying to achieve? What are you proposing to use the money for? To design and develop a new website for the Lakes Line: this will use the old www.lakesline.co.uk address but be redesigned to be promotional and to complement the Lakes Line Rail User Group site. The site will use pictures and text available from Cumbria Tourism and other tourism agencies and attractions to encourage people to travel into the Lake District by rail. It will be aimed at local residents, commuters and tourists including international tourists coming to the area through Manchester International Airport. It will have links to appropriate TOCs, to National Rail Enquiries, the Lake District National Park, Cumbria Tourism and other local transport providers. It will complement the LLRUG site www.lakeslinerailusers.org.uk which will carry the history, archives and photo gallery for the line. Was the project successful ? Yes – The new website is working well and has achieved its aims with 57,386 hits in the period Feb-April 2011. The daily average use has risen from 53 to 61 and the website has been well received by Cumbria Tourism, The Lake Line Rail User Group and by TransPennine Express.
Delivering community aspirations in Bugle, Cornwall - Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership What are you trying to achieve? We are trying to fulfil the aspirations of The Friends of the Atlantic Coast Line (Focal) and local volunteers in Bugle to make Bugle station much more user friendly. Public access to the station l is by means of steep stairs from a road overbridge. The pld station sidings have now gone and been replaced by a significant amount of new housing. This gives the opportunity to hopefully attract more local people onto the trains and also means that, for the first time, largely level access to the station platform could be created. The route that would be used would also be better for the village centre. What we aim to do is to create this new level access and work with Focal to promote use of the railway in Bugle. Local volunteers maintain flower tubs at the station but water supply is a problem. This project would also supply a new water butt and associated guttering, fencing. A specific targeted leaflet promoting use of Bugle station, including times, fares and days out information would be produced by us and distributed to local households by Focal members to coincide with the opening of the new entrance. What are you proposing to use the money for? The lion’s share of the money would be used to employ Network Rail to clear the area behind the platform and create a new pedestrian entrance to the station from Station Road in Bugle. This would mean installing a new gate and laying a tarmac footpath to the platform ramp, together with fencing off the railway itself. A new entrance sign and poster board would be provided, plus new signing from the village. We would also produce a leaflet specifically about times, fares and days out ideas from Bugle which Focal members would deliver door to door. Was the project successful ? (March2011) The project at Bugle to due to be completed July 2011
Medway Line Station Guides 2nd Batch - Kent CRP What are you trying to achieve? To produce and deliver good quality bespoke station guides to communities served by un staffed station. these will provide details of station facilities, local places to visit by train, journey times and useful contact numbers and a introduction to the Kent community Rail Partnership. What are you proposing to use the money for? To pay for the printing of the guides, associated artwork and delivery to the communities concerned on a door to door basis. Was the project successful? The guide where produced by March 2011, however with a new timetable coming into force in May 2011 it was decided to delay delivery until then. To test the effectiveness of the leaflets parish surveys will be undertaken later in 2011 and SouthEastern will provided journey data for the stations. Let’s go for a walk....in the Tamar Valley - Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership What are you trying to achieve? There are two elements to this project –
What are you proposing to use the money for? Element 1 We will produce a 12 page walks booklet of easy to follow walks from Bere Ferrers, Calstock and Gunnislake stations. The walks will be designed to accompany the Tamar Valley Children’s Book (another DCRDF Project) and will be advertised in the book. Walks will be written so that children lead adults on the walk and also have activities they can do along the way. The activities will be curriculum based so that school groups can use the booklets in the classroom. There will be A4 posters produced and distributed for display in schools and three quarter page adverts in the Herald (Plymouth’s daily newspaper) in March promoting the book, walk and trips to the Tamar Valley. Books will be available for collection at the Tamar Valley Centre, near Gunnislake station, by request from the Partnership or can be downloaded from our and the Tamar Valley AONB’s websites. A “Diary” form will be included to encourage those using the book to let us know what visit(s) they have made. A prize will be available to encourage responses. Element 2 We will produce an orientation map poster for each of the four rural Tamar Valley Line stations. We will employ a local artist to produce these. Each poster will be an attractive representation of the area surrounding that station, showing key landmarks, footpaths, roads etc.These will complement the walks booklet in element 1. Was the project successful? (March 2011) There are two elements to this project 1. a 12 page booklet of easy to follow walks and 2. Attractive orientation maps at each of the four Tamar Valley Line rural stations Element 1. The book has been produced but is currently being printed. The original success criteria is for 1,000 books to be collected, requested or downloaded by the end of May. As we are a month late with having the printed book, this will be by the end of June and I will report back after this time with the results. Element 2. Yes. All the maps are in place. Did the project run to the timescales envisaged? It has run a little late on what was quite a tight timescale Did the costs turn out as expected - if not why not? Costs have come out a bit higher than anticipated, mainly because the design element has cost more than planned for in the bid.
Web based resources for the Greening the East Lancashire Line DVD – Phase2 - East Lancashire CRP What are you trying to achieve? Phase 1 of this project has seen the production of a high quality DVD describing some of the 'green' developments that have taken place along the East Lancashire line with a particular focus on the new Accrington Eco Station linked to the National Curriculum requirements of key stage 2 pupils The DVD was produced following consultation with schools to establish what their requirements were and the DVD uses a variety of techniques including open ended questions, encouraging pupils to undertake further research to learn more about environmental issues such as climate change, and suggesting ways in which (railway) building can be made more sustainable. To support the DVD it is planned to develop a range of web based resources that will be located in www.communityraillancashirelancashire.co.uk/learning-zone. This application seeks to build on the DVD project through the development of the supporting pupil and teacher materials. What are you proposing to use the money for? The funding will be used to develop teaching materials that will be available on www.communityraillancashire.co.uk/learning-zone. The particular materials include:
The project will be linked to school visits and trips along the line to the new Accrington Eco Station, Education Resource Centre. Was the project successful ? The project set out to develop the following: Yes – the materials fit in well with the new DVD Greening the East Lancs line In terms of schools being visited, the CRPO and Marjorie Birch, Vice Chair of the EL and CL CRPs have a programme of schools that will be visited, shown the DVD and support materials and taken by train to the Accrington Eco Station. The teaching material can be viewed at www.communityraillancashire.co.uk/learning-zone.
Lostock Hall Safety and Security Project - East Lancashire CRP What are you trying to achieve? The project is aimed at improving passenger confidence in using Lostock Hall railway station through a range of measures aimed at changing the perception of safety and security at the station. The station suffers from spates of anti social behavior, trespass and vandalism by groups of local young people who often hang around the station in the evening. There are repeated cases of minor damage to the station's facilities and there are periods when this becomes more serious including breaking the window panels in the new shelters and the wooden fencing. Ballast is frequently found strewn along the platform and the running-in-boards have been badly dented from repeated stone throwing attacks. The running line is often used as a short cut, even in daylight, between the Preston bound platform and the opposite platform as it offers the risk taker a much shorter route to the village centre. What are you proposing to use the money for?
Was the project successful ? In the most important way yes the CCTV has been installed which hopefully will deter the damage being done to the structures and fences at the station. As the CCTV has only just gone in it is too early to measure its effectiveness but the ELCRP Joint Management group will monitor this. The work with local schools will be on-going and will aim to make them aware of:
Brian Howorth the CRPO is working hard to get a station adoption group off the ground. We have had success at many stations along the line so we are hopeful of getting a group started.
Shanklin Station Improvements - Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership What are you trying to achieve? South West Trains and the Isle of Wight CRP have spent in the region of £22K at Shanklin station, providing an exterior makeover in heritage colours, with new platform furniture, heritage signage, planters and yearly flowers in the heritage line colours of red, green and cream. However some internal areas are long overdue for an overhaul, the CRP and SWT would like to revamp the existing areas and swap the current unused waiting room at the end of the platform, near the buffer stops, with the staff room, providing waiting facilities appropriate and inline with the needs of current passenger. This will give the staff a much needed area with toilet facilities and passengers a better waiting area where they can see the train, and have easy access to toilet facilities. We also want to incorporate display boards within the new waiting room. This will be used to exhibit artwork in conjunction with local schools in partnership with the CRP, bringing rail to young people and the future of our integrated transport system on the Isle of Wight. What are you proposing to use the money for? We would use the money for plumbing, electrical work, painting and waiting room furniture, minor carpentry work to make good doors and secure display boards around the waiting room. Was the project successful ? The project, with the swapping of the layout for both passengers and staff has been a success.
Bishop Line Branding /Signage -Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership What are you trying to achieve? Improved public knowledge and ‘ownership’ of the Darlington - Bishop Auckland line What are you proposing to use the money for? The provision of Bishop Line route specific branding on signage and stations along the Bishop Line. Was the project successful ? Yes running in borad are all branded as are station approaches etc.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Line Guide - Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership What are you trying to achieve? The CRP's with our partners want to put a Line Guide together to benefit both the Isle of Wight and the New Forest Line between Lymington and Brockenhurst with reductions to featured attractions, available with a valid rail ticket. What are you proposing to use the money for? We intend to use the applied for funding from the DCRDF to pay for the maps and the distribution of the leaflets through Take one Media to TIC’s in the SE Region. Was the project successful ? (March 2011) The project is still underway.
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