Horizons – Community Rail Lancashire
This project was born when Community Rail Lancashire (CRL) began work with the Carlton Junior and Infant School in Dewsbury, whose pupils rarely engaged with the railway and in many cases, had never been on a train before. The school’s headteacher was keen for this to change, and for pupils to raise their aspirations and ambitions. Pupils […]
Railway Confidence Programmes – Community Rail Lancashire
Overview Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) often struggle to access public transport for a range of reasons, from sensory or physical needs to a lack of confidence. Most of the young people engaged in this programme had never travelled by train before, meaning that every stage that forms part of a […]
Seats to Sacks – Community Rail Lancashire
Seats to Sacks is an innovative project devised by Community Rail Lancashire, that aimed to reduce social isolation whilst turning railway moquette into story sacks for primary school children. Concepts and Aims Network Rail’s Stay Safe with Thomas book is proving popular with children. Community Rail Lancashire’s Education Development Officer Karen Bennett thought it could be used in […]
Stand Clear of the Closet Doors – Community Rail Lancashire
Concept and aims Confident and safe use of public transport is a right that must be available to all people within our communities. However, in a London-based survey, 40% of LGBT+ people said they avoided using public transport because of fear of assault or actual assault. Therefore, it is vital to facilitate the sharing of […]
Women in STEM – Community Rail Lancashire
In 2019, only a quarter of employees working in core Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) industries were women. A need to address this imbalance led to Community Rail Lancashire (CRL) creating Women in STEM, a project designed to address gender bias and banish stereotypes that certain roles were only suited to men. The initiative looked at […]
Dave Carlisle: an outstanding volunteer – Friends of Buxton Station
Early days: When Dave Carlisle broke his hip and leg in a cycling accident, he used a period of enforced bedrest to form the beginnings of the Friends of Buxton Station (FoBS). He formulated ideas and started to gather people together, determined to make a positive difference to the town. The group initially focused on litter picking […]
Intergenerational art project – Friends of Rose Hill Station
Concept and aims The Friends of Rose Hill Station, in Marple, recognised that their area had an ageing population, with younger generations consisting mainly of families who had moved into the town. There was perceived to be a lack of inter-generational engagement and active participation in local life, resulting in a gap in the transfer of […]
Taking positive opportunities during Covid-19 – Heart of England CRP
Heart of England Community Rail Partnership is a recently formed community rail partnership, covering stations between Stratford-upon-Avon / Leamington Spa and Tysley, as well as stations to Nuneaton and West Coast mainline stations between Marston Green and Coventry. The CRP has adapted to the challenges brought on by Covid-19, by amplifying their online messaging and […]
Lowestoft Central Project
Overview The main roof of Lowestoft Station was removed in 1992, leaving a concourse surrounded by derelict or unused buildings, cut off from the town centre by closed doorways. What remained of the structure and its location showed huge potential to be explored, leading to the formation of the Lowestoft Central Project group in 2017. […]
Bottesford Friendly Garden – Poacher Line CRP and The Bee Friendly Trust
Concept and aims The Poacher Line Community Rail Partnership had identified a neglected piece of land, including an old station building, next to Bottesford Station that they felt had the potential to be transformed for community use and become a friendly garden. The line officer held forums and attended parish council meetings to ascertain what local residents […]
