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Scenic rail ale trail along the SWR network launches at Honiton Station

A new Salisbury to Exeter Rail Ale Trail has been launched to encourage people to visit local pubs by train across the South Western Railway network. Organised by the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership and Blackmore Vale Community Rail Partnership (CRP) with the support of South Western Railway, the Rail Ale Trail consists of 19 […]

Community rail projects receive investment through SWR fund

South Western Railway (SWR) has announced a £400,000 investment in 15 community projects through its Customers and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF). Purbeck, Isle of Wight and New Forest Community Rail Partnerships are among those awarded funding for projects that aim to increase confidence, teach rail safety and encourage more sustainable journeys on public transport. The […]

Adults with additional needs supported to Try the Train with Purbeck CRP and SWR

Purbeck Community Rail Partnership (CRP) hosted a ‘Try the Train’ event with South Western Railway (SWR) to increase travel confidence among people with physical and learning disabilities. The trip, from Weymouth and Dorchester South stations to Wareham, involved around 20 members from the Volunteer Centre Dorset and Muntsy’s Community Based Learning and Activity Centre. Purbeck […]

Friends of Brockenhurst Station and SWR promote cycle safety in the community

Friends of Brockenhurst Station teamed up with South Western Railway on Saturday 23 March to host a bike security and cycling day at the station, resulting in over 40 bikes being tagged. The event, funded by South Western Railway, invited cyclists to prepare for summer by getting their bikes security marked and making use of […]

SWR Spotlight: Celebrating history and heritage at Shawford Station

The disused Victorian waiting room and ticket office at Shawford Station has been given a new lease of life and purpose, thanks to a partnership between South Western Railway (SWR), Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership (CRP) and other stakeholders. Three Rivers CRP believed that the dilapidated building, which had stood unused for 40 years, could […]

Apply for South Western Railway’s Community Improvement Fund

South Western Railway (SWR) is inviting applications for the next round of its Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF). CCIF supports small and medium-sized projects with a community benefit or that address an area of social need somewhere on the SWR network, which serves Berkshire, Devon, Dorset, London, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Somerset, Surrey […]

SWR celebrates as 100+ of its stations are adopted by local community volunteers

South Western Railway (SWR) is celebrating a landmark milestone as over 100 of its stations are now adopted by local community volunteers. Staines Station in Surrey, which was named Medium Station of the Year at the National Rail Awards on Thursday 14 September, has become the 100th station to be adopted, meaning the majority of […]

Hampshire CRP celebrates win at National Rail Awards

Hampshire Community Rail Partnership (CRP) has celebrated after winning the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Society’ category at this year’s National Rail Awards. The National Rail Awards, held in London on Thursday 14 September, celebrate achievements across the railway industry. Hampshire CRP incorporates four community rail partnerships covering 50 stations – Reading to Basingstoke CRP, Three Rivers […]

Age Concern Richmond members Try the Train with South Western Railway

South Western Railway (SWR) recently welcomed members of Age Concern Richmond on a ‘Try the Train’ trip to increase confidence and accessibility of rail travel. Age Concern Richmond are the latest community group to experience the ‘Try the Train’ trip, which is designed to reassure and educate those who have not travelled by train before, […]