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We propose to designate the Peterborough to Ely route, known as the Hereward Line, as a community rail service. This proposal is in line with the Department^s Community Rail Development Strategy.

Designating the route will allow the community to design rail services according to local needs. In turn, this will help to increase passenger numbers, improve connectivity to key destinations and ultimately boost the local economy.

Designation will allow the Hereward Line Community Rail Partnership the opportunity to:

^ Bid into the Designated Community Rail Development Fund (DCRDF) for projects that support their objectives. This grant provides funds for small projects covering marketing campaigns, community engagement schemes, research projects and small station enhancements.

^ Attend ACoRP conferences and training events. The DfT support a bursary scheme which allows the Community Rail Partnership Officer (CRPO) to attend these conferences and training events free of charge.

^ Attend the Department for Transport^s annual Designated Lines Seminar. As a designated route the CRPO will be invited to the annual DfT Designated Lines Seminar which is used to update CRPs on wider rail developments; to share best practice and to network.

^ Benefit from a more ^formal^ status similar to a local authority. With designation there is often a strong psychological advantage with a feeling of recognition^ and ^belonging^ which cuts across the partnership.

Q: Why are you holding the consultation at this stage?
A: The Hereward Line Community Rail Partnership approached us with a view for a service designation of the route. We are satisfied that they are a robust partnership able to work well with local groups and key stakeholders to improve their services. We are also satisfied that the route is suitable for service designation.

Q: Who is entitled to respond?
A: As the original strategy was widely consulted on, this is a short consultation involving key stakeholders and local groups. However, we have made this publically available and therefore welcome responses from any organisation or member of the public.

Q: How do I respond? What issues do I need to cover and comment on?
A: Details on how to respond are provided in this pack. How much detail you provide and what issues you cover are entirely up to you. Responses can be as short or as long as you like.

Q: The original Community Rail Development Strategy was published in 2005 and reviewed in 2007. Can you explain why you are still referring to a strategy which is over 10 years old?
A: The four values of the original strategy to increase revenue, reduce costs, increase community involvement and support social & economic development still remain valid.

Q: Will designation result in less subsidy from the Government for the upkeep of the line or development of services?
A: No. Subsidy and money available for local track maintenance and improvements will not be adversely affected by designation. Indeed designation will strengthen the CRPs bargaining power for grants and funds to improve local services.

Q: Will designation in any way impact on freight or divisionary services?
A: This proposal is for service designation of the community rail line including several rail stations along the route. Service designation excludes the track and signalling and is used if there are other non-community services sharing the line. On this basis freight services will not be adversely affected by designation. More information on community rail and designation is provided with this consultation pack.

Q: How will the local community benefit from designation?
A: Designation will strengthen the remit of the Hereward Line CRP allowing them to work closely with local groups to improve their rail services and stations. This is outlined in more detail under the proposal.

Q: Is designation a permanent arrangement?
A: Designation is intended to be a permanent arrangement, but it can be reviewed periodically to assess whether designation is still appropriate.

Go for it!

The Hereward Line has been designated a community rail service ^ giving passengers in Cambridgeshire more say on how the services are run.
Services on the 29-mile route between Ely and Peterborough, which also serves Whittlesea, March and Manea, will continue to be operated by train companies, including Abellio Greater Anglia.

However, this will now be with the support of the Hereward Community Rail Partnership (CRP), which will be made up of local organisations, train operators, councils, rail users and other interest groups, and which will have direct input in securing better services and station facilities.

The Government designated the Hereward Line as a community rail service on Tuesday.

Rail Minister Claire Perry said: "This railway provides a vital link for rural communities, businesses and visitors across the Fens.

"It makes perfect sense that locals should be directly involved in improving these services and identifying priorities for developing the route.

"I look forward to seeing the Hereward Line Community Rail Partnership help give a new lease of life to the route, ensuring its long-term future. This is good news for the local economy and means better journeys for customers."

Hereward Line Community Rail Partnership chairman, Cllr Simon King, said: "This official designation will give the partnership the formal recognition it deserves.

"It will help us continue to play our part in improving services for local people, not least by giving us access to some additional funding.

"In the three years since our launch we have already achieved a great deal, both in securing better train services and improving facilities at local stations. Having this more formal status will undoubtedly help us to build on those achievements."

Jamie Burles, managing director for Abellio Greater Anglia, said: "We're very pleased that the Hereward Line has gained Community Rail designation status.

"The Hereward CRP has already played a valuable role in the development and promotion of this important route.

"Designation will provide more opportunities to build further partnerships, secure more funding for more projects and help the line continue to thrive in the future.

"We have already helped increase passenger demand and community involvement, especially at Manea, where the introduction of stops on our Ipswich to Peterborough services in December 2013 has led to an increase in passenger numbers of over 135 per cent."

Nineteen rail lines around the country have been designated by Government as community lines since 2005, along with a further 20 as community rail services since 2005.

These include the Wherry Lines services between Norwich, Yarmouth and Lowestoft, which were designated in February 2007, and the East Suffolk Lines between Ipswich, Felixstowe and Lowestoft, designated as community rail services in February 2015.