Citizens' Rail

Category: Project-wide news

  • 8 out of 10 want to be involved in planning their local station

    8 out of 10 want to be involved in planning their local station

    Students from RWTH Aachen University have uncovered strong public support for a new station at Richterich, with 80% of those surveyed eager to be involved in the project’s planning.

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    660 local residents were consulted through face-to-face interviews and online surveys during July 2013. The 10 students asked what level of participation people wanted to have in the new station project, as well as their preferences regarding destinations and the choice between the North and South variants of the plan.

    Findings

    [icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#ffffff” radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] 71% said would use the train (because it would be quicker than the bus and more convenient).

    [icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#ffffff” radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] 21% said they would not use the station (due to anticipated delays and being satisfied with the existing bus service).

    [icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#ffffff” radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] 80% wanted to be involved in planning the new station.

    [icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#ffffff” radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] The students found that it is the youngest and oldest residents who rely most heavily on existing public transport in the form of the bus service.

    [icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#ffffff” radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] It is estimated that 1000 passengers would use the new station per day.

    [icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#ffffff” radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] People’s highest priorities for the station’s design are shelter, good bus connections and personal safety.

    [icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#ffffff” radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] Other priorities include greening and noise protection for local residents.

    [icon size=”14px” color=”#D42053″ background=”#ffffff” radius=”0px” type=”icon-chevron-sign-right” spacing=”0px” /] There is an even split between those wanting a station with modest features but that is quick to realise, and those wanting a more comprehensive station that may take longer to build.

    Find out more about the project to develop a new station in Richterich.

  • Citizens’ Rail launched at Houses of Parliament

    Citizens’ Rail launched at Houses of Parliament

    A new 9 million Euro EU project focusing on local and regional railways was launched at the Houses of Parliament in London on Monday 22 October 2012.

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    Titled “Citizens’ Rail”, this EU INTERREG IVB NWE project includes partners from Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands and will run until September 2015.

    The Partners are Plymouth University (Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership) and Lancashire County Council in the UK, Conseil Régional des Pays de la Loire, France, Parkstad Limburg, Netherlands, Aachen City Council, Aachen Regional Transport Authority and Aachen University, Germany.

    As well as looking to develop and improve rail services and facilities, the partners will be working together to better engage communities with their local railway, including the planning of new and improved facilities and breathing new life into rundown or disused stations.

    There is a wealth of experience among the Partners and they will be sharing this in developing and taking forward the schemes that will form part of the overall project.

    Richard Burningham, manager of the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership, the Project’s Lead Partner said “This is a very exciting project. Local and regional rail services are important throughout north west Europe and there is much we can each learn from the approach and expertise of the others. I believe the demonstration projects will be real flagships with results that will benefit others in developing their local rail services.”

    The project will include corridor improvement plans on three routes, two in the UK and one in France.

    Exeter – Paignton in Devon, UK
    La Roche sur Yon – Bressuire – Saumur in Pays de la Loire, France
    Blackburn – Burnley – Manchester in Lancashire, UK (new service from 2014)

    These will include additional services, local marketing and publicity campaigns, small-scale station improvements and community involvement, through outreach, community forums and encouraging volunteers and station friends groups. Under the theme “Community Stations”, there will be a demonstration project in Burnley, Lancashire.