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Community Rail and the Environment Conference The environment - a term used a lot in the media and elsewhere, but what does it mean to the railway industry and more specifically Community Railways? This national one day conference is designed to look at all aspects of Community Rail and the Environment. With speakers from Northern Rail, National Express East Anglia, Network Rail and many other organisations, the conference will investigate marketing the environmentally friendly aspects of Community Rail, look at green fuels and how they might work for Community Rail and hear about the ground breaking Eco Stations and ‘Green’ Branch Line projects taking place on Community Rail lines. Said Neil Buxton General Manager at ACoRP, ‘the environment is very close to our hearts in the community rail movement. We all know the railways are the most environmentally sustainable method of travel, but some aspects of the environmental agenda can become quite confusing. Our intention with this conference is to dispel some of the myths and showcase a number of the excellent projects that are taking place on Community Rail lines around the country’ Full details of the conference can be found now on the ACoRP website www.acorp.uk.com. Bookings can be made by contacting the ACoRP office hazel@acorp.uk.com , or telephone Hazel on 01484 847790 ENDS More information regarding bookings and display space contact:- Hazel Bonner 01484 847790
South West Trains Tops at the Community Rail Awards 2008 At a explosive ceremony at The Plymouth Pavilions tonight (Friday 19th Sept 2008) , South West Trains and its three Community Rail Partnerships were awarded the coveted overall winner’s award, presented to the group, CRP, individual or train operating company - or any combination - that in the judges’ view has contributed the most to community rail development in the past 12 months. Winner of the other top award for Outstanding Volunteer Contribution was Janet Cloke, station adopter at Althorne, Essex. Outstanding Community Rail Partnership Officer Contribution went to Faye Lambert of the North Staffordshire CRP. Said Neil Buxton General Manager of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships, ‘The continuing success of the ACoRP awards is testament to the standing that community rail now has in the rail industry. There have been some terrific entries and the judging has been very hard. It never ceases to amaze me how many ordinary people contribute to giving their local railway lines a sustainable future, be it through promotion of the train service, making their stations centres of the community or indeed the 101 other activities demonstrated in the awards this year. Everyone in community rail, be it train operator, local authority or individual, can take pleasure in these awards, whether they won or not, and we look forward to seeing even more people taking part at next year’s event in Carlisle, ENDS For more information please contact Neil Buxton ACoRP General Manager on 01947 811800 or 07779 795671.
First grant awarded from the Designated Community Rail Development Fund The first grant from the new community rail development fund supported by Network Rail, the Department for Transport and the Association of Community Rail Partnerships have been awarded. The first grant has been awarded to the Clitheroe Line Community Rail Partnership for their DVD Rail Journey Project. The project involves the production of a high quality DVD to describe the route between Blackburn and Clitheroe highlighting features of railway, historical and geographical interest and importance. The DVD will be linked to the requirements of the National Curriculum Key Stage 2. To achieve this the partnership has worked with Daisyfield County Primary School, Blackburn to understand how the school interpret the national curriculum requirements to get the maximum benefit from the DVD. Supporting materials will also be prepared including a pupil’s workbook for use in school. Said Rail Minister Tom Harris: “Community Rail is about getting best value out of the many local and rural railways we have in this country. It’s great to see the first grant going to a project relevant to schools and young people and I hope that the DVD will not only help with their studies, but encourage those who watch it to use and get pleasure from their local railway.” Said Brian Haworth, Partnership officer for the line, ‘ this project will not only assist with the delivery of the national curriculum, but also introduced young people to the positive benefits of rail travel. We are delighted to receive this funding towards our project’ Said Jerry Swift Government and Corporate Affairs Manager at Network Rail. ‘Network Rail is thrilled to see money from the community rail fund going to this worthwhile project. We commit considerable resources, through our No Messin' campaign, to communicate with young people about the railway and its dangers. This project complements that work perfectly. ENDS For more information please contact Neil Buxton ACoRP General Manager on 01947 811800 or 07779 795671. Notes
A Bright Future for Community Rail Partnerships! Great value for money was the overriding message from the recent ACoRP led study into ‘The Value of Community Rail Partnerships’. These were some of the findings unveiled at a special conference held in London on 10th July. Sponsored by the Department for Transport, Passenger Focus, the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers and Northern Rail and undertaken by Transport Regeneration of Bury St Edmunds, the study looked at the added benefits Community Rail Partnerships bring local communities and businesses, train operators, local and national government and regional development agencies and other organisations. “This report confirms what we’ve always suspected – that Community Rail Partnerships can make a real difference to the lives of the communities who rely on our rural and local rail services” said Neil Buxton, ACoRP’s General Manager “the fact that a robust and accepted set of appraisal tools puts CRPs in the highest value for money category only strengthens our case” he added. One of the principal findings of the study - the biggest to look at the value of Community Rail routes for more than 40 years, - showed that CRPs had the potential to give a benefit-to-cost ratio of 4.6:1 – putting them in the DfT’s highest possible value for money category! Other re-assuring findings highlighted by the study included:
Heidi Mottram, Managing Director, Northern Rail, said: 'We're proud to support 17 community rail partnerships on the Northern Rail network, which have really helped increase the number of people travelling on our trains. This study confirms that community rail partnerships bring benefits not only to train operators but to communities as a whole." Ashwin Kumar, Passenger Director, Passenger Focus added, “We are delighted to be part-funding this research as Community Rail Partnerships make an important contribution to increasing usage of local and rural lines across Britain. Allowing local innovation and creativity to flourish has led to improvements in rail services for passengers in a number of areas. Passenger Focus welcomes the creativity shown in marketing these railway services to potential passengers and in providing services that take into account the passengers’ end to end journey including connections to other modes of transport”. The study also demonstrated that CRPs:
CRPs add value as part of a more holistic approach to local transport, the report found, and delivered growth of rail use whilst still the Department for Transport’s value for money criteria. This research and evidence will now help to strengthen the case for continued funding of CRPs in the future, both from mainstream transport budgets and more diverse sources. In brief, more power to the collective Community Rail elbow! Copies of the report are available on CD from the ACoRP office and cost £5 (postage and packaging included). Further details: Neil Buxton, General Manager on 01484 847790 or 0777 979 5671.
Scenic Britain by Train Guide Launched The latest edition of Transport Marketing Ltd’s handy pocket guide to the most scenic rail routes in Britain has now been published. The guide, now in its sixth edition, is designed to help people be they overseas visitors or locals explore more of Britain via the extensive rail network. Lines covered range from the shortest, the superb St Ives Bay Line in the far west with its dramatic views as the line sweeps along the golden sands of Hayle Towans, to the Buxton Line carrying visitors from Manchester to the High Peak town, and the desolate beauty of the Far North Line in Scotland. Most of the lines showcased also have Community Rail Partnerships, who will provide prospective visitors with more information about their lines via the tear out, freepost response card on the back of the booklet. Commented Brian Barnsley Operations Manager at ACoRP ‘this little booklet is invaluable as a guide to the best train rides in the country. Its handy size is easy to carry with you anywhere and is packed full of ideas for sustainable day trips and longer breaks. All the lines are linked by the superb intercity network, so there really is no need to take the car to access the great British countryside’ The new edition is available from Tourist Information Centres nationwide, on line at www.acorp.uk.com or by sending a A5 24p stamped address envelope to SBBT, The Rail and River Centre, Civic Hall, 15a New Street, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, HD7 5AB. ENDS More information please contact Brian Barnsley Operations Manager on 07791 800429 Notes
ACoRP welcomes simple ticketing The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) today welcomed the announcement by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) of simplified train ticketing arrangements across the rail network. The new names, Advanced, Off Peak and Anytime along with simple to understand conditions will make buying the correct train ticket a lot easer for existing passengers, and will make the decision of non rail users to travel by train much more straightforward. Neil Buxton General Manager of ACoRP said ‘many of our Community Rail Partnership Officers are asked about tickets when engaging with their communities. These new names and conditions will make their task easier and will enable them to give correct information to people making enquires’ ENDS Notes
The search has started – Community Rail Awards 2008 The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) announces the start of the 2008 search for the very best in community rail. Said Neil Buxton, General Manager at ACoRP ‘these awards are designed to reward those people who go the extra mile in the community rail field, be they station adoption groups looking after wayside stations, local authorities who have developed regeneration projects, the volunteers on the ground that make so many events and projects happen and indeed the staff of the train operators without whose help a lot of this work would not happen’ The number of awards and industry sponsors is growing every year, with this year a Best Marketing Plan, the new Passengers Matter and the Outstanding Community Rail Partnership Officer Contribution award being added to the very popular Outstanding Volunteer Contribution and Outstanding Railway Staff Contribution awards. Brian Barnsley Operations Manager at ACoRP said ‘all the awards are sponsored by the railway industry with the 1st prize winners receiving a cash prize. We are very grateful to our industry partners for supporting the community rail movement in this way.’ The 2008 awards will be presented at a gala dinner on the 19th September 2008 at the Plymouth Pavilion, Plymouth. It promises to be a great night. Anyone can enter the awards and nomination forms are available from the ACoRP website at www.acorp.uk.com or from Hazel at the above address. ENDS More information please contact Neil Buxton ACoRP General Manager on 07779 795671 Notes
Community Rail Weekend 2008 It’s National Community Rail Weekend again and all around the country Community Rail Partnerships, Station Friends and supporters of rural and local rail are getting out and about promoting their local railway. This year’s events start on Friday 16th May with a range of guided walks from the scenic Derwent Valley Line (Derby –Matlock). In fact walking from community railway lines feature heavily this year with walks from many lines including the Penistone line in Yorkshire , East Lancashire Line and Wales. On-train events have not been missed, with some trains on Yorkshire’s Penistone Line being used as venues for the Shepley Spring Festival taking place over the weekend. Music trains are also operating in Kent on the Medway Valley Line and the Bittern Line in Norfolk. In Wales the Conwy Valley Rail Initiative working with Arriva Trains Wales and the Ffestiniog Railway will be holding a gala at Blaenau Ffestiniog station on the 17th, with loads of local stalls, and attractions including a visiting quarry locomotive operating within the station confines. Station Galas aimed at the general public are taking place all over the country including Bridlington, Glossop, East Grinstead, Blackburn and Hellifield. Neil Buxton General Manager of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships said, ‘this is the fourth national celebration of community rail. This year we have more events than ever taking place nationwide offering people the chance to get out and about and explore their local railway. A full list of events can be found on the ACoRP website www.acorp.uk.com under news/community rail diary (or in the notes below) ENDS More information please contact Neil Buxton ACoRP General Manager on 07779 795671. Notes
Another three! Three more community rail lines and services have been designated by rail minister Tom Harris. They are the South Fylde Line between Blackpool South and Preston; the Lakes Line between Windermere and Oxenholme; and the Severn Beach Line from Bristol. Designation of lines enables train operators and local community rail partnerships to work with many agencies and local people to further develop the potential of these important transport arteries. Welcoming the announcements, ACoRP chairman Peter Roberts said "This is great news and further endorsement of the successful community rail strategy for local lines. I know that there are exciting plans to develop these lines by the community rail partnerships, boosting both use and ridership’. Ends Further information contact Neil Buxton, ACoRP General Manager Mobile 0777 979 5671
ACoRP welcomes Tram -Train Trial The Association of Community Rail Partnerships today welcomed the announcement by the Secretary of State for Transport that a trial of Tram Trains would be going ahead on one of the Uk’s most successful Community Rail Lines – the Penistone Line, running from Huddersfield to Sheffield in Yorkshire. The trial due to start on 2010 will see significant investment in the infrastructure along the line, and the introduction of five new rail vehicles on the route, to the benefit of existing and potential customers. Said Neil Buxton, General Manager of ACoRP – ‘this is great news for the Community Rail movement and the Penistone Line in particular.’ ‘ We are pleased that this project is taking place in a sensible structured way, and that customer and staff views of the new trains will be taken into account’ ‘We, along with the Penistone Line Partnership, and the South Pennines Rail Partnership look forward to working with the Department of Transport, Network Rail and Northern Rail to make this project a success’ he added. ENDS General enquires Neil Buxton - ACoRP General Manager 07779 795671.
‘Diversity’ Achieving Wider Passenger Diversity on Local & Rural Lines The Association of Community Rail Partnerships announces a national conference on achieving wider passenger diversity on rural and local rail services. Said Neil Buxton General Manager at ACoRP, ‘we are very pleased to be promoting this conference on behalf of the community rail movement. For community rail lines to deliver their full potential it is imperative that we engage with all members of the community. The aim of this conference is to give attendees an insight into how they might achieve this objective in a measured, sensitive way’ This national conference brings together a diverse range of speakers including Manjeet Turner from Docklands Light Railway talking about their award winning Community Ambassador Scheme; Aneela Asim, from Nottinghamshire Black Partnership who will discuss passengers from ethnic minorities – ‘the perception, the reality, the potential’ and Sarah Collins, from Severnside Community Rail Partnership who will talk about the partnerships work engaging with young people and young offenders. The keynote address will be from David Horne, Commercial Director, East Midlands Trains, who are also the main sponsors for the conference which is being held at Nottingham ’s Arena on Thursday 1st May 2008. Full details of the conference can be found now on the ACoRP website www.acorp.uk.com. Bookings can be made to by contacting the ACoRP office hazel@acorp.uk.com , or telephone Hazel or Dawn on 01484 847790 ENDS More information please regarding bookings and display space contact:- Hazel Bonner 01484 847790 New Trains for Rural Lines The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) welcomes the publication of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Rolling Stock Plan published 30th Jan 2008. The plan not only outlines the thoughts on rolling stock expansion for trunk routes, but also allocates a substantial number of extra trains for Community Rail lines across the UK. The plan also supports the forthcoming trial of Tram/Train modern lightweight rail vehicles that are finding wide acceptance on continental Europe, and was proposed by ACoRP in its 2004 publication ‘Trains, Trams Tram Train’ Said Neil Buxton, General Manager at ACoRP ‘we are very pleased that the Rolling Stock Strategy acknowledges that there has been substantial growth on the UK’s rural and local lines as well as the main line, and that some of this major expansion of the railway vehicles fleet is being directed at these rural fleets.’ The rolling stock plan can be viewed on the DfT’s website at www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/rollingstock/rollingstockplan ENDS More information please contact:-
The value of community rail partnerships study launched. The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) have today announced the launch of the biggest study into the real value of community rail lines, since the Beeching closures of the early 1960’s. The study will be undertaken by Transport Regeneration of Bury St Edmunds and will look at the added benefits that community rail brings to train operators, local authorities, central government, Regional Development Agencies and the communities the lines serve. Said Neil Buxton ACoRP General Manager ‘we have evidence that passenger numbers and revenue grows when community rail initiatives are adopted on local and rural railway lines, but up until now, it has been difficult to gather evidence on what other benefits local railway lines being to communities they serve and the country as a whole’. ‘The study will look in detail at how Community Rail Partnerships can be drivers of economic regeneration, environmental sustainability, modal shift and social inclusion, and will investigate the economic, regeneration, social and environmental benefits the lines contribute to’ he added The study is being funded by train operators Northern Rail and One Railway, DfT Rail, the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers, the Association of Train Operating Companies and Passenger Focus. The study will be presented at the forthcoming ACoRP conference in London during July 2008. ENDS More information please contact:-
Community Rail Line Marketing Strategies Short-listed This year the marketing category at the ACoRP Community Rail Awards is going to be a lot more exciting. Last November Community Rail Partnerships and their respective Train Operating Companies where asked to submit their marketing strategies for consideration by our expert judges. The three short listed entries are each to receive £1000 to put towards implementing their marketing plans. At the DfT/ATOC/ACoRP Community Rail Communications Workshop held last week in Birmingham, three short listed Community Rail Line Marketing Strategy’s were announce by Ian McBrayne Head of Stakeholder Relations in the Department for Transport's Rail Group. The three short listed entries are:- Severnside CRP and First Great Western for a strategy on the Severn Beach line, that focuses on increasing off-peak journeys over the next 12 months between Clifton Down, Redland and Bristol Temple Meads stations Clitheroe Line CRP and Northern Rail for a strategy on the Clitheroe line which aims grow revenue by 10% in 2007/08. This is to be achieved by a range of marketing initiatives undertaken by the CRP and Northern. Abbey Line CRP and Silverlink Trains for a strategy that aims to build both the substantial commuting market and the leisure market on the Watford Junction –St Albans Abbey line. Each partnership now has until late September to implement their plans, when our judges will consider how the line has performed measured against its plan. The best performing will be declared winner of the Marketing Strategy Category at the ACoRP Community Rail Awards in Bexhill. Said Neil Buxton General Manager at ACoRP “We were delighted that so many entries were received - our judges had a hard time deciding which lines to select!” “‘It also shows the commitment of the respective train operators in that they are also taking this award very seriously. Community rail is moving up a gear in relation to marketing; we will still do the fun things but they will be integrated into professional marketing plans that will deliver the passenger growth that will make Community Rail a continuing success” he added. The CRPO’s from the shortlisted lines
Sarah Collins – Severnside CRP, Ian McBrayne - DfT Darlington, home of the railway, 181 years on Almost 181 years to the day after the first Stockton & Darlington train steamed into town, thousands of visitors came to the home of the railway at Darlington this weekend. This was to take part in the second annual national Community Rail Festival organised by ACoRP - the Association of Community Rail Partnerships. With the thousands of visitors, including railway folk, enthusiasts and local people who came, ACoRP events organiser Hazel Bonner said 'I can confirm the outstanding success of this year's event, even bigger and better than last year when we held our first Rail Festival at Norwich, It's been a splendid day out for all concerned, uniting the people and the community with their railway'. As well as displays at a packed Bank Top station there were attractions and events at North Road Museum and Locomotion the National Rail Museum at Shildon too. There were locomotives on display and special trains ran, whilst vintage buses were running on both days to allow easy travel for visitors between the different event venues without needing to use their cars. An unforeseen problem occurred at North Road Museum when thieves stole lead flashing from the roof. Museum manager Bob Clarke said 'people from many organisations including Network Rail, Darlington Borough Council's emergency call-out team, British Transport Police and our own museum staff all worked together to get temporary repairs done in time for the start of Saturday's Festival'. Amongst the attractions on display at Locomotion Shildon were steam locos Black Prince and City of Truro whilst diesels on show at Bank Top included a class 56 locomotive, a class 66, a Deltic, a Northern Rail class 156 unit and one of Trans Pennine Expresses very new class 185 DMU passenger units which are currently being introduced on their services. Saturday's highlight was A4 Union of South Africa steaming into Darlington at lunchtime with a special charter train from London, bringing hundreds of enthusiasts. As well as another charter arriving, this was complimented by an afternoon excursion to Redmire on the Wensleydale Railway. The Redmire trip was repeated on Sunday as well. Railway officials from all four of the train companies serving Darlington (Northern, GNER, TPE, Virgin) all joined with ACoRP in confirming the success of a splendid weekend of intense interesting activities in which all parts of the railway came together to enable visitors to have an enjoyable and informative time.
Community rail stalwart Brian Barnsley has joined ACoRP as it's new Operations Manager. Coming from 'Summer wine' country, Brian lives in Holmfirth; whilst his new office base is in Slaithwaite - a frequent location for canal side shots for the television series. Brian - well known as the partnership officer for the Penistone line (one of the DfT's Community Rail pilots) has a wealth of experience that will benefit both ACoRP and community rail partnerships across the UK. Commenting on Brian's appointment, ACoRP General Manager Neil Buxton said 'We're delighted to have Brian on board and he will be an invaluable addition to the team. He has many years experience of our areas of interest and will assist us greatly with the Community Rail Awards and Railfest at Darlington in September'. Brian's responsibilities will be wide-ranging and will include working with new and existing Community Rail Partnerships, developing and providing training and publicity and promoting all areas of ACoRP's work.
At the Central Stations project event in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Derek Twigg said that there were many good things happening in the rail industry. He reaffirmed his support for ACoRP and our community rail work. The Minister recognised the Central Stations project as a splendid example of what the rail industry can do. It works with committed people across all sectors of voluntary and community organisations, helping not only by providing space but by generally bringing life back to stations too. Participants came from many spheres of activity including train companies and regional development agencies, community councils and local authorities. A tripartite lease has been developed with Network Rail to facilitate the occupation of redundant station space by voluntary sector organisations, with the first occupants being
Almost 30 years ago, Susan Miles led a team that started to plan the conversion of a derelict building in Water Lane, Newport into the town’s community hall. This year Cosy Hall celebrates its 21st birthday, opening to the public in November 1985. Now, over 30,000 people a year use the hall which has doubled in size and its founder is honoured with an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her “Services to the Community in Newport Shropshire.” Susan went on to share the skills she developed in the restoration and management of Cosy Hall, to become Village Halls Adviser for Staffordshire from 1991 – 2001, working with 186 communities throughout Staffordshire on all aspects of Village Hall development and management. She is now bringing those skills to ACoRP’s Central Stations Initiative, as Project Officer for the groundbreaking project which offers community use of empty railway premises to local community groups and charities at a peppercorn rent. Working throughout the East and West Midlands, the project received national recognition last week at its Westminster reception in The House of Commons, at which transport minister Derek Twigg spoke..
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