Hi everyone. We hope you are all well and enjoying the Spring sunshine. This week we’re updating on our training and events, community rail in the news, and looking ahead to Railway Day. Scroll down for members and partners’ stories. If you have items for future bulletins, email Nik.
Upcoming training & events
Our online training and events programme continues to offer wide-ranging learning opportunities for free to our members. Keep an eye on our events diary, and this bulletin, to take advantage. Here are a few coming up:
- Introduction to presentation skills – Tues 25 May: an interactive online workshop for those who would like to improve/refresh their presentation skills. The workshop includes tips on how to plan and structure a presentation, and how to present with confidence. Find out more & book
- Promoting rail’s green credentials webinar – Tues 8 June: providing the latest facts, figures and contextsto help you confidently promote rail as the sustainable transport option. Find out more & book
- Encouraging and enabling modal shift through community engagement webinar – Tues 22 June: exploring how community rail can support modal shift to rail, combined with bus and active travel, through evidenced engagement techniques. Bookings to open w/b 11 May
Railway Day – Friday 30 April
On Friday 30 April, the rail industry comes together on Twitter to celebrate railway staff and volunteers at all levels and across all disciplines. The day, organised by the Rail Delivery Group, will highlight the contribution made by rail staff and volunteers over the last year on projects such as Rail to Refuge and food collection schemes. We are asking the community rail family to support this online event by posting your activities too, using the #RailwayFamily hashtag.
Community rail in the news
We’ve been working hard to champion the role community rail can play in the recovery of our railways and communities, and promote effective collaboration. See p46-48 for an interview in the latest Rail Director magazine.
Our chief executive Jools Townsend also guests on Rail Delivery Group’s Big Conversations Podcast, out tomorrow. The theme is “Social capital: supporting and enabling communities in post-pandemic world”. It’s free to listen to from Thurs 29 April here.
We’re still collecting in coverage from our regional PR campaigns (25 items so far). If you’ve spotted coverage please send it to Nik.
National Rail Contracts development
Community Rail Network has been taking part in discussions by DfT and their consultants on development of the National Rail Contracts, set to replace Emergency Measures Recovery Agreements with train operators. This is enabling us to advise directly on benefits delivered by community rail partnerships and station groups, and how the movement can be developed going forward. We have also been providing expert advice on how maximum social value can be derived from our railways, such as through inclusive local engagement and reaching out to non-rail users.
Volunteer guidance for Scotland
As of Monday 26 April, ScotRail is inviting community rail volunteers back to stations to resume activities, while following key precautions. See details on our Covid-19 web page or consult ScotRail.
If you have queries about what’s possible and appropriate where you are, speak to your support & development team contact, or view our Covid-19 guidance.
News from our partners
- New industry guidance on sustainable stations and sustainability pledge
- Covid-19 return to rail travel – latest research summary
News from our members
- Rails to recovery – community rail in the North West
- New Lancashire bus service connects rail with countryside attraction
- Women in Community Rail host new Breathing Space session – 11 May
- Ten years of blooming partnerships for the Friends of Bentham Station
- Dronfield stations friends are back to work
- Spring has sprung for the Friends of Goostrey Station
- Women in Community Rail celebrate first birthday of southern branch
- Community rail officer vacancy – Southeast Communities Rail Partnership
- Senior transport officer (rail policy) vacancy – Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council