National Network - Local Service 19th March 2011
Community Rail Partnerships and Station adoption groups around the country took part in this national ACoRP event on Saturday 19th March. The idea was simple: - to promote the local train service, local produce and the National Rail Network.
Eccles Cakes in Eccles
FRECCLES (Friends of Eccles Station) teamed up with their good friends at Lancashire Eccles Cakes Ltd to distribute individually packed Eccles cakes to the passengers using Eccles Station. Two hundred cakes were distributed to those travelling from or to Eccles station on all trains during the morning and the Northern Rail on-train staff were not forgotten.
FRECCLES members enjoyed splendid early spring sunshine whilst distributing the treats, specially "badged" for the day as 'FRECCLES' cakes.
One passenger was thrilled to receive a free Eccles cake: she said "You have made my day; no-one ever gives me anything!" A family arriving at Eccles station was very pleased with their free treats, especially their children, who wished that this happened every time they arrived at Eccles station!
A few passengers were using the rail service for work but most were taking advantage of the good weather to visit Manchester and beyond for shopping and a day out using the train service that whisks passengers to the heart of Manchester in only 7 minutes.
Many kind comments were received about the work of FRECCLES at the station and especially that the gardens were looking lovely in the sunshine.
The Heart of Wessex Local Food Train
Passengers on First Great Western’s services from Weymouth to Bristol were treated to a special surprise when Heart of Wessex Community Rail Partnership volunteers handed out free samples of local produce from some of the best Dorset and Somerset producers and independent food stores to a total of around 400 passengers on the morning train up to Bath and Bristol Temple Meads and the lunchtime train back from Bristol to Weymouth.
Volunteer supporters Andy Hutchings, Terry Putnam and Peter Meech were on the 08.46 train from Weymouth with partnership officer Catherine Phillips loaded with stocks of Fudges sweet and savoury biscuits, Dorset Blue Vinney and Dorset Coastal cheeses supplied by The Fridge of Dorchester, House of Dorchester chocolates and refreshing Cox and Bramley apple juice from Orchard Farm Cider near Yeovil. At Castle Cary they were joined by Laura Tilling, Jane Wilde and Chris Edwards carrying delicious sweet and savoury treats from local independent food stores Oates and Musson, The Pantry by the Pond and Martin’s of Castle Cary. The voluntary team also came along with stocks of their special “insider’s guide” to their town, which includes details of a lovely walking route they have mapped out from the station, to encourage visitors to come back and visit Castle Cary’s excellent range of shops for themselves.
Customers went away with menus of the food and drink they had sampled including full details of all the suppliers and shops, and the food team sported special “uniforms” supplied by Sprint sign makers and printers of Dorchester.
Says Catherine Phillips “Our Local Food promotion was a big success. There was a lovely atmosphere on both trains, which at times almost turned into impromptu parties! The Community Rail volunteers were incredible – they were on their feet going up and down the trains for over six hours, handing out delicious local produce, and making sure everyone had a great time. This was just the latest example of the passion, energy and hard work they put in to promoting this line to local people and visitors. The contribution they make to enhancing and raising awareness of the Heart of Wessex Line, and building and demonstrating its value to the local economy is enormous, and it is hard to find words to express what we owe to them”
Ethnic Nosh at Nelson
Northern Rail’s Community Ambassadors based in Greater Manchester and Lancashire were on hand at Nelson interchange handing out tasty grub to passengers at Nelson interchange.
Refreshing wait at Knutsford Station 
Passengers got a pleasant surprise whilst waiting for their trains at Knutsford on Saturday when they were offered fresh apple juice from Willington Fruit Farm. Mid Cheshire line passengers got the opportunity to find out more about the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership and toast the Mid Cheshire Line with the award winning Cheshire apple juice.
Sally Buttifant, Mid Cheshire Community Rail Officer said: "Passengers were surprised to be offered a free drink whilst they waited for their train. The Mid Cheshire Line is very popular and vital in terms of connecting Cheshire towns and villages between Chester and Manchester."
Stroll and Sausages
Meanwhile over on the Penistone line, volunteers from the Penistone Line Partnership and Kirkburton and Denby Dale Parish councils were at Denby Dale and Shepley stations handing out the new edition of their local food promotion leaflets. There was than a walk to the Farmers Boy at Shepley, where local spicy sausage were supplied for lunch.
Arun Valley edibles
Along the Arun Valley line there were stalls at four stations celebrating the diversity of local produce. At Chichester O’Hagans’, a local sausage maker, had a BBQ at the station; at Horsham Flax Farm, a local farmer was selling his porridge and Flaxjacks; at Barnham Slindon Bakery was selling breads and cakes; and at Arundel Aldingbourne Trust were selling their jams, breads and plants. Passengers were pleasantly surprised to see the stalls at the stations. The day was a great success. A great spin off has been that two of the station cafés will now be permanently stocking goods from the local producers.
and in sunny Cumbria….
On the Lakes Line (Oxenholme – Windermere) 100 pieces of Wilsons of Kendal Mint cake were distributed on four Trans Pennine Express trains by members of Lakes – Line RUG and CRP. Good conversations were had with the passengers and timetables and LLCRP postcards were also distributed. The distribution of mint cake coincided with the Staveley beer festival and may have cleared the customers' breath if not their hangovers!
The Furness Line was busy and 100 sticks of Morecambe Rock and 70 copies of the new timetable were distributed on Trans Pennine Express and Northern trains. It was also an opportunity to tell passengers about the new Furness Line CRP website.
The Bentham line involved members of Leeds &Skipton RUG and the Leeds, Lancaster Morecambe CRP travelling on Northern Rail services and also handing out yet more sticks of Morecambe Rock, which was much appreciated by the passengers.
A Rye smile
Sussex Community Rail Partnership joined forces with Rye Farmer’s Market to promote local produce at the weekly market held in the town.
The stall at the station in Rye gave away free tasters of new apple and pear flavoured crisps and apple juice from local farm Perry Court. The stall was decorated with other produce from local producers including eggs and honey.
The railway passengers were thrilled with their freebees and many said that they would go to the market to try other local produce. Regulars felt it was a lovely way to cheer up their journey and the tourists thought that Rye was lucky to have such a wonderful stall each week!!
Sussex CRP officer, Sam Bryant said, “ this was a fun event to have at the station and it was met with great enthusiasm; if it helps the local farmer’s market then that is even better. We are in now in discussion with the market about having a market in the station car park during local ‘Taste of Rye’ month in October”.
Stories you can eat up 
Friends of Glossop Station organised the event working with sixteen pupils and their parents from the Duke of Norfolk Primary School, Glossop. Northern Rail's Glossop line Manger Adrian Barkley helped with all the arrangements and his daughter Vanessa came along dressed as a crocodile to add to the fun!
Caroline England was our superb storyteller and she held the children and adults entranced with her interactive storytelling skills and a range of puppet props. Friends of Glossop Station had travelled on an earlier train to Manchester in order to turn one part of the 10.39 train into a jungle scene! Cushions, throws, posters and netting made for a very unusual section of a 323 unit!! The driver kindly let us put up a crocodile picture in his cab as the train pulled into Glossop.
At Manchester Piccadilly staff and passengers were much intrigued by the sight of a six foot crocodile leading the way to Northern's Hospitality unit on Platform 10. Here Adrian and Vanessa had laid on orange juice and biscuits in jungle decorated environment - cups, tablecloths, etc. all in jungle patterns. Parents and children enjoyed this break and were full of enthusiasm for their fun journey! Some parents said," And next Saturday you are doing…………..?
And at Marston Vale they drop a clanger!
Passengers on the Marston Vale Line between Bedford and Bletchley received a special surprise when the local food train pulled into town! Members of the Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership were busy distributing Bedfordshire Clangers as part of ‘National Network - Local Service’, an event arranged by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships and the Association of Train Operating Companies to celebrate the network of community rail lines across the country.
The clangers were supplied by Gunns Bakery, one of the last places in the country to bake Bedfordshire’s unique delicacy. The clanger is a complete meal in one with a pasty at one end and apple pie at the other.
Stephen Sleight, Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership Officer, said, “"Passengers were delighted to be offered a free Bedfordshire clanger during their journey on the Marston Vale Line. Many took the opportunity to sample this Bedfordshire speciality for the first time and to find out more about the Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership’s work in promoting and developing Bedfordshire’s local railway”.
For a full image galley of the above events please click here
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