The Hereward Community Rail Partnership (HCRP) has held what Greater Anglia describes as a “unique cultural event” involving poetry on a train.

A special journey from Peterborough to Ely featuring poets reading work inspired by the bicentenary of the modern rail, the Fens and the surrounding landscape.

The event was the first ‘poetry on a train’ event to be held in the Anglia region.

It involved passengers travelling on a Greater Anglia train through the Fenland area while poets read their work.

When the train arrived in Ely, the Mayor of Ely welcomed them to the town, and they then took a guided walking tour hosted by Visit Ely.

At the end of the work, further poetry readings took place by the riverside.

Passengers then enjoyed an evening buffet, refreshments and additional performances at The Maltings in Ely.

The evening was compered by Toby Wood, who was Peterborough’s first Poet Laureate. Several poets from across Peterborough, Fenland and Ely took part.

Performances included Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat, plus works that had been written especially for the event, including Shippea Hill, Mind the Gap! and Fenland Runners.

Toby Wood also curated a souvenir booklet containing photographs and poems which were inspired by a rail journey that took place recently through the Fens. Wood contributed a piece titled Railway 200 in 200 Words, and a series of poems of twenty words each.

The Hereward Line has five stations: Peterborough, Whittlesea, March, Manea and Ely.

The Hereward Community Rail Partnership, which was accredited in 2020, is managed by Fenland District Council working in partnership with train operators, rail user groups, station adoption groups and local residents. Together, they work to support and promote the Hereward Line. Among other activities, it has improved its website as a hub for travel and tourism, with the help of a grant from Greater Anglia.

For more information, visit the Hereward Community Rail Partnership website at: https://herewardcrp.org/

“This was a truly fantastic and unique event – the first of its kind that we’ve organised. It brought together poetry, landscape, and rail travel in a beautiful way and created such a warm, community-focused atmosphere. We’ve had wonderful feedback from everyone involved.”

Joanne Rose, Hereward Community Rail Partnership Officer