Great Western Coffee Shop

Sim Harris, the Editor of Railnews, asked me to write the Guest Opinion column on community rail for the current issue.  Here it is - http://www.dcrp.org.uk/guest-opinion-piece-railnews/

www.railnews.co.uk  Photo - www.railhub.co.uk

With many thanks for your posting that item here, RichardB, I'm taking the liberty of also adding a link to the larger 'pdf' version of that excellent article - purely for ease of access to those of our readers with limited technology.

See http://www.dcrp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/RB-guest-opinion-piece-in-Rail-News.pdf  ;)

Richard, reading the PDF has made me remember something I noticed a few weeks ago. The banners for the gunnislake line Carnet that are up all say valid until June 2016. Hadn't realised it was the partnership behind the carnets.
The work done by the various partnerships certainly opens an eye to what's possible with the community engagement.

The Facebook page referred to in the article: https://www.facebook.com/greatscenicrailways/
And an excellent website: http://greatscenicrailways.co.uk/

Thanks Richard.  I put the idea of Carnets to Wessex Trains Commercial Director back in early 2004 as a way of boosting use of the Tamar Valley Line and he said yes (when many in his position would have said no).  We keep it very simple from a rail industry point of view with sales only at five shops etc in the villages.  They have worked a treat in terms of increasing passenger numbers.