Get people involved – Citizens' Rail

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#ffffff” radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Citizens’ Rail toolkit > Get people involved

[notphone]Get people involved[/notphone][phone]Get people involved[/phone]

Even if you’ve never tried it before, community involvement on your line is possible – and will reap many benefits.

Rail is special. It captures the imagination and inspires affection and dedication in a way that other forms of public transport do not. This puts the railway in a great position to engage all sections of society.

By working with schools, students, businesses, volunteers and other audiences, you can bring the railway to life. Getting people involved can help you to:

Make stations more welcoming and attractive
Create a railway that has a local identity and that inspires pride
Introduce new audiences to rail travel
Harness local energy and insights
Support the economy

[power_title color=”#D42053″ ]Who do you want to work with?[/power_title]

Volunteers

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Volunteers bring stations to life and give the railway a friendly, human touch.

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Gardening projects make stations more attractive. Volunteers can also reassure and help new users.

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] The volunteers benefit too – making friends, learning skills and keeping fit.

[button size=”small” color=”#ffffff” background=”#d42053″ radius=”0px” type=”flat” link=”/toolkit/get-people-involved/volunteers/” newwindow=”false” icon=”” ]Read more[/button]

Schools

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Trips, tours and classroom projects can instill a life-long love of rail.

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Engaging kids helps to keep them safe, and reduces vandalism and graffiti.

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Inspiring children is a great way to encourage the whole family to enjoy day trips by train.

[button size=”small” color=”#ffffff” background=”#d42053″ radius=”0px” type=”flat” link=”/toolkit/get-people-involved/schools/” newwindow=”false” icon=”” ]Read more[/button]

Students

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Students bring new ideas, creativity and energy to the railway.

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Engage them as station designers, or researchers to consult the community.

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Invite them to be marketeers for the railway, or to improve nearby stations through physical volunteering projects.

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People with disabilities

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] People with disabilities can transform stations through gardening and other projects.

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] They in turn learn new skills and gain new qualifications.

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] By providing support, you can help more disabled people to use the train.

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Businesses

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Engaging local businesses at stations is mutually beneficial.

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Stalls and shops make stations more lively, characterful and useful – turning them into a hub for the community.

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] The businesses gain a higher profile and access to new customers.

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Tourism sector

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Tourism providers can be important advocates, encouraging sustainable travel and suggesting day trips to guests.

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Supply them with the tools they need – leaflets, timetables and advice.

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Work in partnership online too – on social media and by swapping links.

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Rail ambassadors

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Paid or voluntary ambassadors can help new audiences to become regular rail users.

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Through taster trips and advice sessions they break down barriers to travel.

[icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#F5F5F5″ radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] They also provide insight into how the railway can improve to attract all sections of the community.

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[power_title color=”#D42053″ ]Site map[/power_title]

Toolkit homepage | Why get involved? | Contacts for volunteers | How the rail industry works

Create better stations
Improve existing stations
– Early consultation
– Designing with students
– Art and gardening projects
– Community-focused buildings
New uses for station buildings
Creating new stations

Bring lines to life
More trains, better stations
Attracting more users
Involving citizens and stakeholders

Get people involved
Volunteers
People with disabilities
Schools
Students
Businesses
Tourism sector
Rail ambassadors

Evaluate your success
Passenger research
Non-rail-user research
Stakeholder evaluation