Community Railway
Community rail partnerships are designed to facilitate the involvement of local people and groups in the specification, support (non financial), and promotion of the railway along specific rail corridors. These partnerships are at the heart of the government rural rail strategy south of the Border, and more than a dozen routes in England and Wales have been designated as community railways.
Partnerships bring together train operators, Network Rail (or other infrastructure providers), local authorities, community organisations, businesses, development and tourism agencies and other locally based bodies. They are established by mutual agreement and are typically staffed by a paid officer supported by a committee of stakeholders. Greater community involvement is seen as a key way of helping to increase revenue, the sense of local ‘ownership’, and the social and economic value of local railways.
Community rail partnerships have been remarkably successful in winning new business for rural railways, and a growing number are structured as social enterprises and generate some of their resources from practical initiatives, e.g. on-train catering services and events. Partnerships go beyond a simple ‘transport’ agenda and link into wider strategies for accessibility, rural regeneration, social inclusion and sustainable tourism. Their work includes:
- developing walking and cycling routes
- bringing station buildings back to life
- art and education projects
- providing guided walks from stations
- organising special events which promote the railway and its relevance to the community.
CBR is urging line bidders to take on board the many encouraging lessons from community rail partnerships in England and Wales, such as 'station adoption' (including station gardens and organising local walking / cycling tours linked to rail via the nearby National Cycle Route), and encouraging local businesses (some providing rail ticket sales facilities) to locate in and around Tweedbank, Gala, Stow and the Midlothian stations. Campaign members have produced several detailed papers on the scope for community rail development, and these are available from the Chair – see ‘Contact Us’ page.
For more information on community rail development across Britain please contact the Association of Community Rail Partnerships – www.acorp.uk.com
