Tag: community engagement

Food and information stall helps to inform Penhoët station users

Our French partner, Région des Pays de la Loire, has once again proved the power of using food to engage people. Their snacks and information event at Penhoët station in Saint-Nazaire enabled staff from SNCF TER and the Région to consult 150 people and let them know about upcoming station improvements.

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

The event built upon Citizens’ Rail’s “European breakfast” mornings on The Riviera Line in the UK and on the La Roche Bressuire line, also in Pays de la Loire. However this time there was a new twist, with the food prepared by college students from the nearby Lycée des métiers Sainte-Anne.

The afternoon stall allowed station users and local residents to find out more and ask questions about the big improvements that will happen at the station later in the year.

The event will be followed with a pair of storytelling sessions at the station in April and June, as the next stage in Région des Pays de la Loire’s community engagement programme.

2015/04/01
Dutch projects highlighted in UK rail newsletter

Citizens’ Rail’s work in the Netherlands has been featured in a national rail publication in the UK.

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

Each month, Citizens’ Rail has a dedicated page in “Train on Line”, e-newsletter of the UK’s Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP). In the latest edition, our Dutch partner Parkstad Limburg collaborated with the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership (our lead partner) to produce an overview of its work to improve stations and engage citizens.

Read the article (see page 11 of PDF), or subscribe to future editions on the ACoRP homepage.

Photo: plan for Nuth station.

2015/02/17
Rail volunteers are local TV stars again

On the first anniversary of the devastating storms that left the Riviera Line in tatters, the Friends of Dawlish Station have again been featured on BBC’s Spotlight news thanks to their contribution to the station’s revival.

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

The volunteer group, which had previously been dormant, was itself rejuvenated as part of the Citizens’ Rail project. New members were recruited through a media campaign and local networking by the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership. The Friends then helped to give their station a green makeover working alongside broadcaster and horticulturalist Toby Buckland, right in time for the line’s grand re-opening on 4th April 2014. Read more about the Dawlish story.

The BBC Spotlight regional news programme visited Dawlish to broadcast live from the station on the storm’s anniversary, and interviewed the Friends group – pictured below with colleagues from Network Rail:

To find out more about the group or to get involved, contact Citizens’ Rail’s Riviera Line Officer, Celia Minoughan, on 01752 584777 or at celia@citizensrail.org.

2015/02/06
Photo competition: Win a night’s stay at Dartington

Share a photo from your favourite Devon train trip from the last 12 months and you could win a night’s bed and breakfast at Dartington Hall near Totnes.

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

Whether it’s of a family day out or a great sunset snapped from the train on your commute, post your photo on the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership’s Facebook page, tweet to @DCRailPart or email info@citizensrail.org by Monday 9th February to be in with a chance of winning.

At Dartington there are 50 rooms facing a medieval listed courtyard, with easy access to over 800 acres of glorious Grade 2* listed gardens, the best in local and seasonal food and drink, a wide film programme at the 14th century Barn Cinema, and much more. Visit the Dartington Hall website to find out more.

The competition is part of the Citizens’ Rail project, working to get people more involved with their railways and to boost the Riviera Line between Exeter and Torbay.

Local partners in Citizens’ Rail – which is 50% funded by the EU’s Interreg IVB programme – include Devon County Council, Torbay Council, First Great Western, Plymouth University and the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership.

Send us your photo:
Facebook | Twitter | info@citizensrail.org

Terms and conditions
1. All entries must be received by 23.59 on Monday 9th February 2015.
2. To enter, entrants must post a photo on the Great Scenic Railways Facebook page www.facebook.com/greatscenicrailways, tweet to @DCRailPart or email to info@citizensrail.org by 23.59 on 9 February 2015
3. There is one prize of a one-night stay for 2 people at Dartington Hall which must be taken by 30 April. The prize is not available on 14 February and 3-6 April 2015. It includes bed and breakfast and is subject to availability.
4. The competition is only open to those who are 18 years or over and who are residents of the UK. Employees and immediate families of Dartington Hall Trust, Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership, their agents and anyone professionally connected with the competition are not eligible to take part.
5. The prize must be accepted as awarded and is non-transferable. There is no cash alternative. If, due to circumstances beyond Dartington Hall Trust’s control, Dartington Hall Trust is unable to provide the stated prize, they reserve the right to award a substitute prize of equal or greater value.
6. Any extra costs incurred are not included within the prize.
7. No liability or responsibility will be accepted for ensuring submitted entries are received by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership.
8. Neither Dartington Hall Trust nor the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership will be held responsible for any elements of the prize.
9 Dartington Hall Trust reserves the right to check the validity of any entry. Entries failing to comply with these rules will not be accepted.
10. The prize will be won by the entrant who is judged by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership to have submitted the best photo from a trip in Devon from 2014. The competition judging will be supervised by an independent adjudicator. The winner will be notified by email or telephone no later than 12 February 2015. To request the name and county of the winner, please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, School of Geography, Plymouth University, Plymouth, PL4 8AA after 30 April 2015.
11. Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership will use its discretion to select replacement winners in the event of the prizes remaining unclaimed two weeks after notification is sent to the email address provided by the original entrant.
12. No purchase is necessary to enter.
13. Entry implies acceptance of these rules.
14. Only one entry is permitted per person.
15. The prize is brought to you by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, School of Geography, Plymouth University, Plymouth, PL4 8AA and The Dartington Hall Trust, The Elmhirst Centre, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon, company number 1485560, and a charity, registered in England, charity number 279756.

2015/01/28
New report shows the value of involving people in rail

A UK report published today shows that involving people in their railways leads to more passengers, improved stations and stronger communities.

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

The report – which highlights Citizens’ Rail and the contribution of the EU Interreg IVB programme – shows that local routes with Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) are seeing a higher growth in passengers than other local routes, while volunteer station adopters are making a real difference by transforming local stations into a pleasing environment.

The main findings are:

• 2.8% additional growth on community railways compared to regional lines.
• CRPs add value and ‘pay for themselves’.
• 3,200 community rail volunteers give 250,000 hours of their time worth an additional £3.4m p.a. to the rail industry
• Station adoption leads to improved station environments and stronger communities.

One of the report’s “key lessons” is the value of working in partnership, with Citizens’ Rail and the EU Interreg IVB programme highlighted as a good example. The project’s work at Burnley Manchester Road is applauded in the report as a “remarkable pulling together of different agencies and partnership investment strategies which will help revitalise Burnley”. Richard Watts of Citizens’ Rail partner Lancashire County Council is quoted in the report:

“Partnership working has been key to delivering the new station at Burnley Manchester Road. Working with both the East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership and the Citizens’ Rail Interreg IVB project has added value to the project and the transnational exchange of ideas has enhanced the design of the new station and increased its visibility to the citizens of Burnley.”

The research was commissioned by the UK’s National Community Rail Development Steering Group. This partnership comprises central and local government, infrastructure owner Network Rail, the commercial sector Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) and the voluntary sector Association for Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP).

Read the executive summary or the full report:

Executive summary:

Full report:

As well as promoting local railways and encouraging more people to travel by train, CRPs add economic, social and environmental value to their lines, by bringing together local people and the rail industry to develop solutions. Their collective initiatives provide access to jobs, schools, shops, tourism attractions and other services, contributing to sustainable communities.

CRPs were first developed in the 1990s and the National Community Rail Strategy was launched in 2004. This report shows that the Department for Transport, train companies, Network Rail, ACoRP, CRPs and station adopters contribute to a continuing renaissance in regional rail travel, with local routes and the stations along them thriving – in some cases surpassing previous record levels of patronage.

The Citizens’ Rail project represents an expansion and next step for this success story – involving French, German and Dutch partners to learn from and build upon the UK’s track record of involving people in local and regional railways.

Commenting on the report Baroness Kramer Minister of State for Transport said:

“Community Rail Partnerships have a vital role to play in building a stronger economy and a fairer society, as demonstrated powerfully by this research. By encouraging more people to travel by train, they bring real economic, social and environmental benefits to their areas, and support the record investment we are making in the rail network. I hope this inspires more people to set up partnerships and develop their own community railways.”

2015/01/28
“Friends of the Station” group launched at Exeter St Thomas

As part of Citizens’ Rail, a new community group has been launched to support the improvement of Exeter St Thomas station on The Riviera Line in Devon.

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

20 people attended the group’s first meeting and drop-in session, held on 13th January and organised by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and train operator First Great Western. The Friends of Exeter St Thomas Station will help plan murals for the station platform walls and greenery on the platforms, as well as getting involved in planting and watering. The meeting was very productive – with excellent feedback from attendees:

Inspiring community ideas at last night's launch of Friends of #EXEStThomas Station – next stop, a site visit @CitizensRail @DCRailPart

— Cllr Paul Bull (@CllrPaul4Cowick) January 14, 2015

The formation of the Friends group is being supported by the EU Citizens’ Rail project, led by the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership, which is working to develop the Riviera Line, between Exeter and Paignton, and get more people involved with their railway. The project has already helped to revive the Friends of Dawlish Station and set up a new Friends of Teignmouth Station group.

Celia Minoughan, Riviera Line project officer at the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership, said: “The impact that the volunteers have had at Dawlish station shows what can be achieved. We are looking forward to getting ideas from local residents so we can make a real difference to passengers at Exeter St Thomas.”

First Great Western Station Manager Melanie Harvey “We are committed to supporting the communities we serve. This project is aiming to get the railway, volunteers and local businesses to work together to improve the station environment for all.”

The formation of the new group coincides with other improvements taking place at the station as part of Citizens’ Rail – including attractive new shelters.

To find out more or get involved, contact Citizens’ Rail’s Riviera Line Officer, Celia Minoughan, on 01752 584777 or at celia@citizensrail.org.

2015/01/15
Photos from the Santa Special

This weekend, Citizens’ Rail lent a helping hand to First Great Western’s charity fundraising Santa Special train from Newton Abbot station in Devon.

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

The trip was made extra special as it was on the rarely used former ‘Teign Valley’ Heathfield line. First Great Western worked with Network Rail, the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership (Citizens’ Rail’s lead partner) and the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust to put on this very special event. All proceeds from ticket sales was donated to the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust.

Citizens’ Rail’s Riviera Line Officer helped to recruit volunteers to help at the event. The Friends of Dawlish and Teignmouth Stations and rail user groups joined First Great Western to give away free mince pies and talk to passengers about great value days out by train.

Enjoy some photos from the day…

2014/12/23
School poster to celebrate international trip

Following on from their recent visit to Aachen and Heerlen, children from Padiham Green Primary School in Lancashire have produced a spectacular poster, proudly displayed in the main school corridor.

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

Each child is pictured wearing their Aachen “hoody” and they have written in speech bubbles about their favourite part of the trip. The children have also sent Christmas cards to their new friends from the Domsingschule, Aachen’s cathedral school at which the Padiham pupils spent a fantastic day of learning, singing, making friends and playing international football! The cards featured the children’s own drawings of the cathedral. The German children, much to the delight of the Padiham class, have today replied with their own greetings.

[button size=”large” color=”#ffffff” background=”#d42053″ radius=”0px” type=”flat” link=”https://citizensrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/medium-Display-board-by-pupils-after-trip.jpg” newwindow=”false” icon=”” ]See a larger version of the poster (1.3MB)[/button]

2014/12/18
Walks booklet launched

As part of the Citizens’ Rail project, a new booklet has been developed to encourage more people to enjoy walks from stations on The Riviera Line (Exeter to Paignton).

[divider type=”default” vspace=”20px” hspace=”0%” /]
The free booklet has been produced by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and brings together a selection of six self-guided walks. Included are walks from Starcross, Dawlish Warren, Dawlish and Teignmouth stations. It is part of the promotional campaign being run for the line by the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership as part of the EU Interreg IVB Citizens’ Rail project. See a PDF copy of the leaflet (3MB):

Celia Minoughan, the Partnership’s Riviera Line Project Officer said:

“The booklet is a great companion for people who like exploring South Devon. There are some fabulous walks to explore along the Riviera Line, and this is just a taster of what is out there.”

At Dawlish station this week Celia was joined by walkers from the Dawlish Walk This Way group at the start of their weekly Wednesday walk. Nigel Rhys, a walk leader from Walk This Way, said:

“We welcome the Walks from the Riviera Line booklet. Every week we lead up to 40 people on walks from Dawlish Station, including the Dawlish Town Trail featured in the booklet. A few of our group regularly come from Starcross by train to join us at Dawlish Station.”

30,000 copies of the “Walks from the Riviera Line” booklet have been printed and can be found at stations throughout the First Great Western network as well as local tourist information centres. Copies can also be obtained by emailing railpart@plymouth.ac.uk.

Local partners in “Citizens’ Rail” – which is 50% funded by the EU’s Interreg IVB programme – include Devon County Council, Torbay Council, First Great Western, Plymouth University and the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership. For more information about ‘Walks from the Riviera Line’ and the Citizens’ Rail project, including how to get involved, contact Celia Minoughan at the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership on 01752 584777 or at celia@citizensrail.org.

[button size=”large” color=”#ffffff” background=”#d42053″ radius=”0px” type=”flat” link=”http://therivieraline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Walks-from-Riviera-Line_2_web.pdf” newwindow=”false” icon=”” ]Read the leaflet as a PDF (3MB)[/button]

2014/12/05
The Riviera Line website wins another award

After being recognised last month at the UK Community Rail Awards, a website developed as part of the Citizens’ Rail project has received further praise – this time winning at the UK Rail Exec Most Interesting Awards.

[divider type=”default” vspace=”20px” hspace=”0%” /]
The Riviera Line website won in the Most Interesting Community Engagement Project category at the awards, held in Leicester on 29th November 2014. The award was presented by Neil Buxton, General Manager of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships to Mike Parker-Bray, Citizens’ Rail Communications Officer at the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership.

The story of the website
After winter’s infamous storms, the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership (DCRP) wanted to harness the local feel-good factor around the re-opening of the line through Dawlish.

A marketing campaign was developed to win back lost passengers and to attract non-users to try the train between Exeter and Paignton. Its centrepiece was TheRivieraLine.com – a new type of community rail website, providing concise travel advice delivered in a visual, modern style.

The website – launched in the first week of April 2014 to coincide with the line’s re-opening – was created as part of the EU Citizens’ Rail project, of which DCRP is the lead partner.

Five innovative features:

Resizing to suit all devices
The site is believed to be community rail’s first “responsive” website. This means its content resizes to provide a comfortable reading experience on PCs, tablets and smartphones (see screenshots provided). This is not only better for the user, but it also minimises costs for the Community Rail Partnership – who might otherwise have to fund and manage an app or separate mobile version of the website. It also future-proofs the website: with the numbers of people viewing websites on mobile devices widely predicted to grow and grow. Since its launch, one in three visits to TheRivieraLine.com has come from smartphones or tablets.

Tailored for non-users
The website breaks down barriers to travel by explaining the essentials in an approachable, easy-to-digest way. This ranges from how to buy tickets when travelling from unstaffed stations, to whether you can take your dog on board, to whether there are toilets on the train. The site addresses these frequently asked questions in a concise, friendly way to help non-users to try the train. This is a departure from the stuffy tone and long-winded content of some public transport websites.

Gathering insights to inform future marketing
Every link on the website is tracked, so that over time a rich picture will develop of which types of discounted tickets are most popular and which destinations are clicked most frequently. In this way the website will become a valuable source of insights to inform future marketing: both online and offline.

Professional, people-focused photography
The site uses professional photography to put people at the heart of the story. This addresses what is arguably a common weakness of public transport websites.

Bringing together little-known tools
There are many handy rail travel tools available online, including season ticket calculators, personalised timetable creators, live departure information, car parking season ticket calculators and more. However, they are often little-known and are tucked away on a range of different websites. TheRivieraLine.com showcases them (including providing direct links to the tools) to raise their profile and help users.

[button size=”large” color=”#ffffff” background=”#d42053″ radius=”0px” type=”flat” link=”http://therivieraline.com/” newwindow=”false” icon=”” ]Visit the website[/button]

2014/12/05