South Western Railway has provided nearly £300,000 to Community Rail Partnerships in 2020 so far.
Community Rail Partnerships are not for profit organisations setup to promote sustainable transport.
This now means that the North Downs Line CRP – Gatwick to Reading – and the Surrey Hills to South Downs CRP – Haslemere to Farncombe have now both got new officers to help deliver projects.
The funding by South Western Railway has allowed for the introduction of new projects such as encouraging travel to stations between Tisbury and Exeter St Davids; supporting a return to work programme; and Travel Training for youngsters in Hampshire.
Some work has been put on hold due to Coronavirus, but South Western Railway has worked with CRPs to adapt plans.
Maddy Mills, the new North Downs line officer, explained: “I'm relishing the new challenge. I've been the part time Education Officer with the CRP for nearly 18 months and during that time I've heard about all the fantastic activities my fellow officers have run on their lines. I'm now keen to get projects planned and possibly run, subject to lockdown, as soon as possible.
“Ideas that I'm working on at the moment include a project with youngsters to create new artwork to be displayed at Ash, Winnersh and Winnersh Triangle stations, which can be prepared now and put up after restrictions have been lifted; and starting discussions on gardening projects to enhance the appearance of stations.”
Lucy Lomax, the first ever line officer for the Surrey Hills to South Downs CRP, added: “I think that this time has been great as through Zoom I have met so many new people in a short space of time. I have felt the time has been productive. That said, I am really looking forward to exploring the new area by train and visiting all the wonderful new places along the part of the line I am now involved in when the time is right.”
SWR's Community Rail Manager, Andy Harrowell, said: “At SWR we are committed to the communities that our stations serve, and the work of the CRPs is even more important than ever before.
“We are really pleased to have helped the CRPs reallocate funds to address needs due to Covid-19, as well as working with them to prepare for work that we believe will benefit local areas in the future.
“We are especially delighted that the new job appointments have progressed. Whilst Lucy and Maddy can't dive straight in to delivering projects at their stations, the work that they have undertaken so far is vital to demonstrating how the railway can, and will, support its communities. I'm really excited about what we can progress on every line as life does start returning back to normal. Our thanks to all the CRPs, as well as the station adopters who have worked with us during the difficult period.”
Each year, SWR provides almost £300,000 of funding to community rail work, including the operator now supporting 11 CRPs:
- Blackmore Vale (Tisbury to Crewkerne)
- Devon & Cornwall (Axminster to Exeter)
- East Hants (Liphook to Rowlands Castle)
- Heart of Wessex (Weymouth to Bristol)
- Hounslow and Richmond (Barnes to Feltham, via Brentford and Twickenham)
- Isle of Wight (Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin)
- Lymington to Brockenhurst
- North Downs
- Purbeck (Holton Heath to Moreton, including Swanage Railway)
- Surrey Hills to South Downs
- Three Rivers (Salisbury to Bursledon / Winchester, via Romsey and Chandler's Ford)
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