Volunteers from National Highways have helped the Riverside Miniature Railway in Cambridgeshire get ready to reopen in time for the May half-term school holidays.

Recent flooding damaged the St Neots Riverside Miniature Railway, leaving it needing repair work in order to operate again.

Over seventy volunteers from National Highways – and from its supply chain companies GRAHAM, Carnell, Chaffin Works and Crown Highways, as well as sub-contractors – spent a week carrying out the work, allowing the railway to officially reopen last Friday (23 May).

Local schools in the St Neots area use The Riverside Miniature Railway for activities for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Disabled children get the chance to drive a train, and the visits allow them to spend time out of the classroom.

Six years ago, the Riverside Miniature Railway sustained damage at the hands of vandals, and had to raise money through donations to make the necessary repairs.

National Highways tries to engage directly with local communities and involves companies from its supply chain in its efforts. In doing so, it believes that it delivers “meaningful social value”.

National Highways has a ‘Social Value Plan’, which aims to create positive outcomes for people, the environment, and the economy.

Its work to help restore the Riverside Miniature Railway after the flood damage is an example of its social value efforts.

The Railway operates on Sundays, between 12 noon and 4pm, and charges just one pound per ride, with under-twos travelling without charge. It has an accessible carriage, named Access-i-belle, for visitors who are unable to sit on our ride on the Railway’s other coaches, for example wheelchair users.

Further information about Riverside Miniature Railway is available here.

“The scale and cost of the work required to bring the railway back up to standard was too much to be undertaken without external help and the joint effort was achieved though the National Highways Social Value Plan which gives back to local communities.

“Swapping roads for tracks this week has been a great experience for us and it’s lovely to see so many volunteers from our supply chain helping us to give back to the local community.”

Dean Birch, National Highways Project Manager