Citizens' Rail

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  • Pupils brighten up Eilendorf station

    Pupils brighten up Eilendorf station

    Local children have given Aachen’s Eilendorf station a whole new look – and grabbed the media spotlight in the process.

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    In a great example of community participation and the Citizens’ Rail approach, pupils from Maria Montessori Gesamtschule Aachen have been painting the station’s shelter and noise reduction wall based on their own vivid artwork.

    Aachen City Council ran a competition with the school to produce designs to brighten up the station’s shelters, noise reduction wall, entrance and signage. The children visited the station to take a look for themselves and get inspired. They then produced a wide range of concepts, from which the winners were picked by a panel of judges from the City Council, the school, Deutsche Bahn and other project partners.

    Now the students have returned to make their designs a reality – and have attracted plenty of media attention. They were featured on local TV news (watch here at 16min 30 – available for the next seven days), and were saluted on the front page of free local newspaper “Super Mittwoch”, distributed to every household in the city. Further press articles are expected in the coming days.

    Waiting shelter

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    Noise reduction wall

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    The project has also been praised by partners and elected officials. District Mayor Elke Eschweiler said: “I think it’s great, the wealth of ideas which the students have brought to their designs is fantastic.” She announced that Aachen-Eilendorf District Council will soon be looking at further children’s projects, which could lead to a re-design of the neighbouring playground into a “station playground”. Deutsche Bahn’s Abdelhafid Tahri was also full of praise for the students’ work, as well as thanking Aachen City Council and the EU Citizens’ Rail project – which has helped to involve citizens in planning significant improvements at the station.

    For more information, visit www.aachen.de/bahnhof.



  • Celebrating Burnley Manchester Road

    Celebrating Burnley Manchester Road

    A celebratory event was held today to mark the investment of £2.3m investment in Burnley’s Manchester Road railway station and launch a new campaign to market East Lancashire’s attractions to rail visitors.

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    As part of the Citizens’ Rail project, work took place over the last 18 months to provide the station with an iconic station building with improved car and cycle parking, CCTV, real time information and improved signage, before services began running on the direct Blackburn to Manchester service via the newly restored Todmorden Curve.

    The Explore East Lancashire marketing campaign will highlight the faster connection as an opportunity to visit the area’s attractions. Posters and leaflets (download a copy, 0.4MB) supporting the campaign will be displayed at stations between Blackburn and Manchester along with artwork previously produce by pupils from Padiham Green primary school.

    Representatives of Burnley Borough Council, Lancashire County Council, Northern Rail, Community Rail Lancashire and Citizens’ Rail gathered to unveil a plaque marking the station investment and enjoy presentations by pupils from Padiham Green Primary School. The first was about the history of the station, and the second told the story of a stickleback called ‘small fry’ that was sucked into the water tank of an engine at Rose Grove and then went on a journey to Manchester and back via the Todmorden Curve. Read the full story in the children’s excellent hand-made book, Operation Stickleback (5MB PDF).

    Councillor Mark Townsend, leader of Burnley Council, said: ‘‘Visitors to Burnley Manchester Road Station are predicted to double now the direct service to Manchester has been established. We’re delighted to have a direct service to Manchester from Burnley once again. It will bring clear benefits to our economy in terms of access to the job market and establishing Burnley as a commuter town. It’s a real milestone in our continuing success story and one we wish to celebrate.”

    Alex Hynes, managing director for Northern Rail comments: “What a fantastic opportunity to celebrate all that has been achieved from a solid partnership approach. Working together with Lancashire County Council, we have promoted a brand new, direct service into Manchester to the communities, towns and villages across Lancashire, which we hope will bring more opportunities than ever to this growing part of our network.”

    Citizens’ Rail project manager, Richard Burningham of the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership said: “The Citizens’ Rail partners, from France, Germany and the Netherlands as well as here in the UK, are delighted to have helped make this brilliant transformation of Burnley Manchester Road station a reality.”

    County Councillor John Fillis, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Improving transport connections is vital to our ambitions to create the conditions for future economic growth in East Lancashire.

    “We’re working hard to develop the case for the government and the rail industry to invest in the infrastructure to improve journey times and frequency, as well as modern rolling stock and station facilities.

    “The restored Todmorden Curve and improved stations in Burnley represent a real step forward but this is just the start of what we need in future.”

    Funding for the station improvements was provided by Burnley Council, Lancashire County Council and the Citizens’ Rail Interreg IVB project. A further £100,000 was secured from the National Station Improvement Programme (NSIP) by Northern Rail/Network Rail to support the platform works including the new passenger shelters.

  • Celebrating Burnley Manchester Road

    Celebrating Burnley Manchester Road

    A celebratory event was held today to mark the investment of £2.3m investment in Burnley’s Manchester Road railway station and launch a new campaign to market East Lancashire’s attractions to rail visitors.

    [divider type=”default” vspace=”20px” hspace=”0%” /]

    As part of the Citizens’ Rail project, work took place over the last 18 months to provide the station with an iconic station building with improved car and cycle parking, CCTV, real time information and improved signage, before services began running on the direct Blackburn to Manchester service via the newly restored Todmorden Curve.

    The Explore East Lancashire marketing campaign will highlight the faster connection as an opportunity to visit the area’s attractions. Posters and leaflets (download a copy, 0.4MB) supporting the campaign will be displayed at stations between Blackburn and Manchester along with artwork previously produce by pupils from Padiham Green primary school.

    Representatives of Burnley Borough Council, Lancashire County Council, Northern Rail, Community Rail Lancashire and Citizens’ Rail gathered to unveil a plaque marking the station investment and enjoy presentations by pupils from Padiham Green Primary School. The first was about the history of the station, and the second told the story of a stickleback called ‘small fry’ that was sucked into the water tank of an engine at Rose Grove and then went on a journey to Manchester and back via the Todmorden Curve. Read the full story in the children’s excellent hand-made book, Operation Stickleback (5MB PDF).

    Councillor Mark Townsend, leader of Burnley Council, said: ‘‘Visitors to Burnley Manchester Road Station are predicted to double now the direct service to Manchester has been established. We’re delighted to have a direct service to Manchester from Burnley once again. It will bring clear benefits to our economy in terms of access to the job market and establishing Burnley as a commuter town. It’s a real milestone in our continuing success story and one we wish to celebrate.”

    Alex Hynes, managing director for Northern Rail comments: “What a fantastic opportunity to celebrate all that has been achieved from a solid partnership approach. Working together with Lancashire County Council, we have promoted a brand new, direct service into Manchester to the communities, towns and villages across Lancashire, which we hope will bring more opportunities than ever to this growing part of our network.”

    Citizens’ Rail project manager, Richard Burningham of the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership said: “The Citizens’ Rail partners, from France, Germany and the Netherlands as well as here in the UK, are delighted to have helped make this brilliant transformation of Burnley Manchester Road station a reality.”

    County Councillor John Fillis, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Improving transport connections is vital to our ambitions to create the conditions for future economic growth in East Lancashire.

    “We’re working hard to develop the case for the government and the rail industry to invest in the infrastructure to improve journey times and frequency, as well as modern rolling stock and station facilities.

    “The restored Todmorden Curve and improved stations in Burnley represent a real step forward but this is just the start of what we need in future.”

    Funding for the station improvements was provided by Burnley Council, Lancashire County Council and the Citizens’ Rail Interreg IVB project. A further £100,000 was secured from the National Station Improvement Programme (NSIP) by Northern Rail/Network Rail to support the platform works including the new passenger shelters.

  • Celebrating Burnley Manchester Road

    Celebrating Burnley Manchester Road

    A celebratory event was held today to mark the investment of £2.3m investment in Burnley’s Manchester Road railway station and launch a new campaign to market East Lancashire’s attractions to rail visitors.

    [divider type=”default” vspace=”20px” hspace=”0%” /]

    As part of the Citizens’ Rail project, work took place over the last 18 months to provide the station with an iconic station building with improved car and cycle parking, CCTV, real time information and improved signage, before services began running on the direct Blackburn to Manchester service via the newly restored Todmorden Curve.

    The Explore East Lancashire marketing campaign will highlight the faster connection as an opportunity to visit the area’s attractions. Posters and leaflets (download a copy, 0.4MB) supporting the campaign will be displayed at stations between Blackburn and Manchester along with artwork previously produce by pupils from Padiham Green primary school.

    Representatives of Burnley Borough Council, Lancashire County Council, Northern Rail, Community Rail Lancashire and Citizens’ Rail gathered to unveil a plaque marking the station investment and enjoy presentations by pupils from Padiham Green Primary School. The first was about the history of the station, and the second told the story of a stickleback called ‘small fry’ that was sucked into the water tank of an engine at Rose Grove and then went on a journey to Manchester and back via the Todmorden Curve. Read the full story in the children’s excellent hand-made book, Operation Stickleback (5MB PDF).

    Councillor Mark Townsend, leader of Burnley Council, said: ‘‘Visitors to Burnley Manchester Road Station are predicted to double now the direct service to Manchester has been established. We’re delighted to have a direct service to Manchester from Burnley once again. It will bring clear benefits to our economy in terms of access to the job market and establishing Burnley as a commuter town. It’s a real milestone in our continuing success story and one we wish to celebrate.”

    Alex Hynes, managing director for Northern Rail comments: “What a fantastic opportunity to celebrate all that has been achieved from a solid partnership approach. Working together with Lancashire County Council, we have promoted a brand new, direct service into Manchester to the communities, towns and villages across Lancashire, which we hope will bring more opportunities than ever to this growing part of our network.”

    Citizens’ Rail project manager, Richard Burningham of the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership said: “The Citizens’ Rail partners, from France, Germany and the Netherlands as well as here in the UK, are delighted to have helped make this brilliant transformation of Burnley Manchester Road station a reality.”

    County Councillor John Fillis, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Improving transport connections is vital to our ambitions to create the conditions for future economic growth in East Lancashire.

    “We’re working hard to develop the case for the government and the rail industry to invest in the infrastructure to improve journey times and frequency, as well as modern rolling stock and station facilities.

    “The restored Todmorden Curve and improved stations in Burnley represent a real step forward but this is just the start of what we need in future.”

    Funding for the station improvements was provided by Burnley Council, Lancashire County Council and the Citizens’ Rail Interreg IVB project. A further £100,000 was secured from the National Station Improvement Programme (NSIP) by Northern Rail/Network Rail to support the platform works including the new passenger shelters.

  • The power of storytelling – Part Two

    The power of storytelling – Part Two

    Our French partner, Région Pays de la Loire, has held a second storytelling event to capture the imagination of local residents and help them to re-discover their railway station.

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    Following the success of April’s “The Imaginary Journey“, a community train trip from Saint-Nazaire’s Penhoët station to Nantes with a focus on fantastical train narratives from around the world, this week’s event focused on exploring the station via the distinctive alleys of Penhoët’s local neighbourhood.

    The area’s network of “Chemins de brouettes” (“Wheelbarrow alleys” – so called because they are just wide enough to accommodate one!) date from the 1950s. Each resident relinquished a small part of their land to allow the creation of pedestrian pathways linking key locations.

    Local theatre troupe la Caravane Compagnie took a group of 25 local residents on a fun-filled walk through these passageways, regaling their audience with tales from the neighbourhood’s past. Their final destination was the station, which some of the participants were discovering for the first time thanks to the event. Drinks and nibbles were had under the passenger bridge above, giving a chance for further discussion about the upcoming improvement works at the station and more conversations about the area’s past and traditions.

    This intimate style of event, organised in partnership with Saint-Nazaire town council, allowed residents to plot their own routes to the station for the future, and helped put the station back on the map within the local neighbourhood.

  • Jusqu’à la gare de Penhoët à travers les “Chemins de Brouettes”

    Jusqu’à la gare de Penhoët à travers les “Chemins de Brouettes”

    Comment faire découvrir la gare de Penhoët aux habitants du quartier ? En leur donnant envie de s’y rendre ! Et si possible en s’amusant. Pari réussi pour cette deuxième balade Citizens’Rail à Penhoët, en compagnie des conteuses.

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    Second volet de l’opération “balades contées”, celle du dimanche 7 juin 2015 a réuni 25 adultes habitant Saint-Nazaire. De l’église de Méan jusqu’à la gare de Penhoët, les participants ont déambulé à travers les “Chemins de Brouettes” en passant par les halles du marché de Penhoët, le café “Chez Gigi” et la passerelle ferroviaire.

    Les “Chemins de Brouettes” datent des années 1950, années de construction des nombreux pavillons ouvriers qui constituent aujourd’hui encore le tissu urbain du quartier Méan-Penhoët. À l’époque, chaque habitant a offert un petit bout de sa parcelle de terrain pour permettre la réalisation de chemins piétonniers reliant les différents lieux du quartier. S’il s’agissait à l’origine d’évacuer plus facilement les déchets de jardin (avec des brouettes, d’où leur nom), ce sont aujourd’hui des liaisons piétonnes très bucoliques qui irriguent le quartier.

    Les personnages de “Virginie et Thérèse”, toujours incarnés par les comédiennes de la Caravane Compagnie comme le 18 Avril, nous ont emmenés avec humour et poésie dans l’univers des petits métiers autrefois exercés dans le quartier Penhoët.

    Le cheminement, vécu de façon intime permet aux habitants de s’approprier le “chemin de la gare”. Une gare qui ne devrait plus être désormais inconnue !

    Pour cette opération, la Région des Pays de la Loire s’est associée à la Ville de Saint-Nazaire qui a une expérience similaire pour permettre aux habitants de découvrir les nouveaux projets urbains. De nombreux participants ont découvert la gare de Penhoët grâce à cette action. Beaucoup confondent les gares de La Croix-de-Méan et de Penhoët.

    Sous un soleil radieux, la balade s’est terminée autour du verre de l’amitié (sous l’escalier de la passerelle ferroviaire !) pendant lequel se sont prolongées les discussions sur la rénovation de la gare et l’histoire du quartier. Tous ont loué le plaisir de découvrir la gare de façon ludique et décalée.

  • The power of storytelling – Part Two

    The power of storytelling – Part Two

    Our French partner, Région Pays de la Loire, has held a second storytelling event to capture the imagination of local residents and help them to re-discover their railway station.

    [divider type=”default” vspace=”20px” hspace=”0%” /]

    Following the success of April’s “The Imaginary Journey“, a community train trip from Saint-Nazaire’s Penhoët station to Nantes with a focus on fantastical train narratives from around the world, this week’s event focused on exploring the station via the distinctive alleys of Penhoët’s local neighbourhood.

    The area’s network of “Chemins de brouettes” (“Wheelbarrow alleys” – so called because they are just wide enough to accommodate one!) date from the 1950s. Each resident relinquished a small part of their land to allow the creation of pedestrian pathways linking key locations.

    Local theatre troupe la Caravane Compagnie took a group of 25 local residents on a fun-filled walk through these passageways, regaling their audience with tales from the neighbourhood’s past. Their final destination was the station, which some of the participants were discovering for the first time thanks to the event. Drinks and nibbles were had under the passenger bridge above, giving a chance for further discussion about the upcoming improvement works at the station and more conversations about the area’s past and traditions.

    This intimate style of event, organised in partnership with Saint-Nazaire town council, allowed residents to plot their own routes to the station for the future, and helped put the station back on the map within the local neighbourhood.

  • Collaborating with businesses on The Riviera Line

    Collaborating with businesses on The Riviera Line

    The Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership (our lead partner) carried out a face-to-face campaign in Torquay and Paignton this week, engaging more than 100 businesses.

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    From bookshops to cafes, model shops to theatres, the Partnership’s Riviera Line Officer visited a wide range of consumer businesses. The aim was to recruit the companies to help spread the word about travelling to Torbay by train – boosting the railway and bringing more customers at the same time.

    The response was extremely positive, with retailers happy to stock leaflets and to display awareness-raising “Get here on the Riviera Line” stickers in their shop windows.

  • Collaborating with businesses on The Riviera Line

    Collaborating with businesses on The Riviera Line

    The Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership (our lead partner) carried out a face-to-face campaign in Torquay and Paignton this week, engaging more than 100 businesses.

    [divider type=”default” vspace=”20px” hspace=”0%” /]
    From bookshops to cafes, model shops to theatres, the Partnership’s Riviera Line Officer visited a wide range of consumer businesses. The aim was to recruit the companies to help spread the word about travelling to Torbay by train – boosting the railway and bringing more customers at the same time.

    The response was extremely positive, with retailers happy to stock leaflets and to display awareness-raising “Get here on the Riviera Line” stickers in their shop windows.

  • Collaborating with businesses on The Riviera Line

    Collaborating with businesses on The Riviera Line

    The Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership (our lead partner) carried out a face-to-face campaign in Torquay and Paignton this week, engaging more than 100 businesses.

    [divider type=”default” vspace=”20px” hspace=”0%” /]
    From bookshops to cafes, model shops to theatres, the Partnership’s Riviera Line Officer visited a wide range of consumer businesses. The aim was to recruit the companies to help spread the word about travelling to Torbay by train – boosting the railway and bringing more customers at the same time.

    The response was extremely positive, with retailers happy to stock leaflets and to display awareness-raising “Get here on the Riviera Line” stickers in their shop windows.

    Dot’s Pantry, Torquay

    Paignton Model Shop