Representatives from the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership and Network Rail visited Pays de la Loire last week to discuss Citizens’ Rail projects including the follow-up to last summer’s extremely successful “beach train”.
In July and August 2013, the additional weekend trains on the La Roche-sur-Yon to Saumur line (see map) led to more than 5,300 extra journeys being made on what is normally a poorly used line – with new passengers attracted by a fantastic marketing campaign.
Now, plans are taking shape for the beach train to be even bigger and better in 2014. At the meeting in Nantes, partners discussed the duration, fares and marketing of “Season 2” of the train – with details to be announced soon.
Following the meeting – at which the partners also discussed next steps for the other Citizens’ Rail projects in Pays de la Loire – the visitors from the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership took a trip to Penhoët in St.Nazaire, where design students and the local community have been planning a safer, more attractive station as part of Citizens’ Rail.
Keep up to date with the story of the beach train by signing up to the Citizens’ Rail enewsletter.
