launch of national campaign promoting scenic and sustainable tourism by rail

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From the Association of Community Rail Partnerships, news@acorp.uk.com

re: http://www.scenicrailbritain.com

Wiltshire community rail group helps to launch national campaign promoting scenic and sustainable tourism by rail

A Wiltshire-based community group – the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership – is today (17 May) helping to launch a nationwide campaign to encourage people to explore ‘Scenic Rail Britain’. A new website, scenicrailbritain.com, blog and social media channels are being launched by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships and its members at stations around the country. They will offer inspiration and information to help tourists and day-trippers plan visits to epic landscapes, coastal scenes, historic sites and picturesque areas by train, particularly via Britain’s wonderful ‘community rail’ routes.

The TransWilts Community Rail Partnership will be joining Three Rivers and Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnerships at London Waterloo Station 6.30am-7.00pm today, promoting Scenic Rail Britain and highlighting the attractions of exploring the area by rail.

Scenic Rail Britain aims to help domestic and foreign tourists access some of the country’s hidden gems, while travelling sustainably and avoiding the stresses of driving. It highlights the huge range of landscapes, sights and attractions that can be enjoyed and accessed by train, including via the scores of lines that community rail partnerships work to promote and enhance. Media can access a preview and images of the website and request photos of the launch event, by emailing news@acorp.uk.com.

As well as helping tourists access more of Britain through enjoyable, environmentally friendly means, tourism by rail makes a growing and vital contribution to local economies. Rail usage in this sector has increased by 30% over the last ten years, with approximately three million annual visitors using the train as part of their trip, adding £510m to the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) economy [1].

Jools Townsend, chief executive of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships, said: “We are excited to launch Scenic Rail Britain today with help from our member the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. This campaign is all about helping families, day trippers and foreign visitors explore our beautiful countryside and fascinating heritage through sustainable, scenic and non-stressful travel. Many people don’t realise the scope for seeing Britain’s stunning landscapes, pretty villages and historic sites by rail – and making use of our wonderful, often little-known, ‘community rail’ lines, is a great way to do this. Anyone thinking of making a trip, or wanting to find out more about what’s on their doorstep, can check out scenicrailbritain.com, for practical tips, itineraries and inspiration.”

Graham Ellis, Community Rail Officer at the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership, said: “Today’s event and the Scenic Rail Britain campaign is a great opportunity for us to promote our railway line to thousands of potential visitors. Wiltshire has so much to offer domestic and foreign guests: from historic towns and villages to chalk horses and stone circles. We hope that Scenic Rail Britain will help us inform wider audiences, and encourage people to visit by rail. It’s an enjoyable and convenient way to travel. It gives a different perspective, benefits the local economy, and means less traffic and noise in our communities.  A Freedom of Severn and Solent Rover gives you eight days of rail travel across Wiltshire and far beyond for less than £10 per day!"

Scenic Rail Britain is being launched through activities at train stations around the country by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships, main partner Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and other community rail partnerships taking part in its annual ‘Community Rail in the City’ event. The event will reach thousands of commuters with information on Scenic Rail Britain, and on some of Britain’s most scenic community railway lines. This includes:
* Three Rivers (Salisbury-Bursledon), Isle of Wight and TransWilts Community Rail Partnerships at London Waterloo 6.30am-7.00pm encouraging people to explore the area by rail;
* Association of Community Rail Partnerships and the Poacher Line at Kings Cross 6.30am-7.00pm, promoting Scenic Rail Britain and encouraging people to explore historic Lincolnshire by rail;
* Wales and Borders community rail partnerships, the Abbey Line community rail partnership (Watford–St Albans) and Marston Vale community rail partnership (Bletchley–Bedford), at Birmingham New Street 10.30am-3.00pm, raising awareness of what there is to see and do within easy access of their lines;
* Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership at Paddington 6.30am-7.00pm, using Poldark to encourage people to visit Cornwall and explore the Duchy by train and other public transport, and launching the Cornwall As Seen on Screen app in partnership with Visit Cornwall;
* Barton to Cleethorpes and Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnerships at Manchester Piccadilly 10.30am-3.00pm, encouraging visitors to travel by rail to the UK City of Culture 2017 and explore the area further;
* Penistone Line Community Rail Partnership (Huddersfield-Sheffield) at Leeds Station 10.30am-3.00pm, promoting travel along their scenic and historic railway lines;
* Essex & South Suffolk, East Suffolk, Bittern and Wherry Community Rail Partnerships at London Liverpool Street 7.00am-7.00pm promoting travel by train across beautiful east of England;
* Bentham Community Rail Partnership (Leeds-Lancaster & Morecambe) at Lancaster Station 10.30am-3.00pm promoting their award-winning Rail to Trail walking and cycling scheme linking stations on the line and their new mini-coach service from Bentham station through the Forest of Bowland AONB^▸ (Areas Of Natural Beauty);
* Sussex Community Rail Partnership at London Blackfriars 6.30am-7.00pm encouraging visitors to explore the historic county of Sussex by rail;
* Kent Community Rail Partnership at St Pancras International in London 6.30am-7.00pm engaging visitors and raising awareness of travelling around historic Kent by rail.
Community rail partnerships work at grassroots level to engage local communities, help people to get the most from their railways, and promote rail as a key part of sustainable, healthy travel (see notes below).

Notes for editors

[1] UK Tourism Statistics 2016 (Tourism Alliance) - www.tourismalliance.com

Funding for the Scenic Rail Britain website, www.scenicrailbritain.com, was awarded by the UK Government, following a successful bid to the Heritage and Community Rail Tourism Innovation Competition, and announced in May 2016. The site was developed by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships and Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership. The website’s hosting, support and maintenance is sponsored by Abellio.  The site will continue to be expanded with information on all of Britain’s community railway lines, and with advice and news for visitors. Sign up for updates at the bottom of the home page.

Community rail is all about ensuring communities get the most from their railways, and promoting rail as a key part of sustainable, healthy travel. There are more than 50 community rail partnerships around Britain, working at a grassroots level along railway routes to connect the community with the train operator and other local partners. They deliver a range of activities to engage and benefit local people and support the development of the railway. More than 1,300 smaller community rail groups, such as station friends, work locally, often involving volunteers in ensuring the station is a welcoming and productive hub for the community. Read about the value of community rail.

The Association of Community Rail Partnerships is the membership body for community rail partnerships, representing over 80 community rail lines, and more than 1,300 local groups. ACoRP^▸ (Association of Community Rail Partnerships) works to empower, support and champion the community rail movement, helping community rail partnerships and groups to:
* Enhance the railways’ contribution to local sustainable development and community wellbeing, including by maximising access to and use of the railways
* Ensure the community has a voice and plays a part in the development and improvement of our railways, so this meets community needs and aspirations and delivers maximum social benefit
* Communicate the development and importance of our railways to local communities, enhancing understanding and pride, and promoting rail as a key part of sustainable, healthy travel.

[broadgage]

There is a lot to be said for this, and rail is preferable to road or air transport on environmental grounds.

My main reservation is that if a rail journey is to be taken to admire the view, rather simply to get from A to B, then the present and likely future rolling stock leaves a lot to be desired.
A short high density DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) with windows not aligned with the seats, no catering and few tables, is not the ideal.

Comfort is arguably more important than speed, and ample capacity is vital with seating for all.

IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion) we need a new design of loco hauled coach for scenic routes, with large windows that line up with the seats, high level curved windows to give a partially upward view, space for cycles and bulky luggage to cater for campers, decent catering, seats at tables and so on.
The mechanical and structural design should be based on existing and proven equipment so as to ensure reliability.

Suitable for haulage by heritage or modern locos.

[rogerw]

Another important factor is clearly lineside vegetation so that you can actually see the view, and keeping it cleared.

[trainer]

I believe Scotrail is procuring some 'panoramic' style coaches for the Northern extremities of the rail system and this is all to the good.

I entirely concur with Broadgage's observations and note that in some countries services aimed at tourists are able to extract a premium price from punters and indeed the Jacobite service to Mallaig is considerably more expensive (x5 over advance fare) than the normal DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) service and often full. I know the idea is to utilise ordinary trains to maximise income, but let's be honest with folk: you may get a seat which gives you a view or you may not.  On the other hand, the fares are often quite cheap on the most attractive lines so it may be worth a gamble that at least in one direction you'll get to see the great beauty of our land in a relaxed way.

Nevertheless, well done to those groups helping to promote the railways for leisure.

[grahame]

Nevertheless, well done to those groups helping to promote the railways for leisure.

Full follow up to all the comments this evening - we're having a fantastic time at Waterloo

[Rhydgaled]

Photos:
(1.) Westbury White Horse?
(2.) Swindon?
(7.) St. Ives Bay Line?
(8.) Cumbrian Coast Line?
(9.) Ribblehead Viaduct?
(10.) Cumbrian Coast Line?
(12.) Conwy Valley Line?

(EDIT: in light of later posts, I think I may have muddled some of the above numbers)

rail is preferable to road or air transport on environmental grounds.

Normally. I think a bus (a form of road transport) is probably more environmentally friendly in some cases; for example on a route that's never going to get above 25 passengers or when the train is a Voyager.

My main reservation is that if a rail journey is to be taken to admire the view, rather simply to get from A to B, then the present and likely future rolling stock leaves a lot to be desired.
A short high density DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) with windows not aligned with the seats, no catering and few tables, is not the ideal.

Comfort is arguably more important than speed, and ample capacity is vital with seating for all.

IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion) we need a new design of loco hauled coach for scenic routes, with large windows that line up with the seats, high level curved windows to give a partially upward view, space for cycles and bulky luggage to cater for campers, decent catering, seats at tables and so on.
The mechanical and structural design should be based on existing and proven equipment so as to ensure reliability.

Suitable for haulage by heritage or modern locos.

Sounds good, but I'd settle for MUs^▸ (Multiple Unit) with large windows (sky veiws not essential), comfy seats aligned with them, lots of legroom (and bays of 4 around tables for about half the train) and unit-end-gangways, run in multiple as required to ensure there's always plenty of coaches.

I believe Scotrail is procuring some 'panoramic' style coaches for the Northern extremities of the rail system and this is all to the good.

Not heard of that; the franchise asked for 'scenic stock' but I thought this was being met by a refurb of their 158 fleet.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Second set of pictures:

1.  Waterloo

2.  Waterloo

Definitely no Tauntons there. 

[grahame]

The locations suggested are all correct ... though this wasn't a quiz so I didn't number them.  Would anyone care to suggest the remaining locations?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm. 

3, 4 and 6 are all very definitely oriented towards Melksham - and I have indeed visited the fascinating building at 4. 

11 is, I think, a rather obscure and little known structure on the Settle and Carlisle ... 

[grahame]

Hmm. 

3, 4 and 6 are all very definitely oriented towards Melksham - and I have indeed visited the fascinating building at 4. 

11 is, I think, a rather obscure and little known structure on the Settle and Carlisle ... 

Yes - though I think your no. 11 is the same as Rhydgaled's number 9 (just you're counting in different ways!).  Leaves 3 pictures not identified!

[Surrey 455]

I was at Waterloo about 6pm today. I would have said hello had I known you were there.

[grahame]

I was at Waterloo about 6pm today. I would have said hello had I known you were there.

Yeah ... didn't get "calendared" here ... but then it was off territory, and there was a press embargo from ACoRP^▸ (Association of Community Rail Partnerships) until 00:01 yesterday with the intent of a big launch [[ at King's Cross ]].  Having started at 06:10, we were pretty wiped by 18:00 so you might not have seen a pretty site.   Report to come in a follow up post.

[grahame]

Community Rail in the City, and the launch of Scenic Rail Britain by ACoRP^▸ (Association of Community Rail Partnerships).

TransWilts joined Three Rivers, East Hampshire, Lymington, Isle of Wight and Purbeck lines at the busiest station on the network - London's Waterloo - yesterday to help promote our comparative byways to the floods of commuters who pass through there every day.

Peak TransWilts trains are getting full (and, yes, we have mitigation plans in the works!) but there remains plenty of offpeak capacity, and if we can persuade people to use it, not only does it help keep the line running but it also helps the economy of the area served.  The "Freedom of Severn and Solent" ticket at less that £10 per day (an 8 day out of 15 ticket), even less with a railcard, and gives unlimited travel after 9 a.m. (any time at weekends) from Portsmouth to Malvern, from Swindon to Weymouth, from Cardiff to Axminster, and all points between.  Including the TransWilts!

A very successful day.   Marketing such as this is hard to quantity until you see results coming through on trains - but we spoke to a lot of positive people (who learned about the line and other rail options too), we worked well alongside other Community Rail Partnerships with whom we cross-inform the public, and we met a number of key contacts who work in London and commute into Waterloo on a dairy basis. This latter is really important in keeping TransWilts on the radar.

A huge thanks to Mark M, especially, for his hard work in organising the day, and to ACoRP for all their backup.  Too many others to mention - on the TransWilts side, huge help to Bob M for helping with stand duty and with fetching and carrying.

























Taking Part:
East Hampshire CRP^▸ (Community Rail Partnership)
Three Rivers CRP
Purbeck Line
Isle of Wight CRP
Lymington line CRP
TransWilts CRP
along with linked organisation and partnership members.

[CyclingSid]

Interesting that the Purbeck Line says it will run a commuter service from Wareham to Swanage from June 13th. Couldn't find Swanage on the National Rail Enquiries site. Does that mean that it is not 100% definite yet? Or will tickets only be sold through the Swanage Railway?

[eightf48544]

Interesting concept. I agree about suitability of window spacing on current stock plus lineside vegetation.  Remember a trip on the Festiniog a few years back, much of the way the view was obscured by large mature trees next to the line. Unfortunately probably not on their land.

Although I did notice a few years that the West Somerset had done some quite extensive tree clearing  on their land.

Interesting comment from a friend of mine who has just come back from Scotland who remarked that they were surprised how busy Fort William to Mallaig was and that it was only a 2 car unit. A line that probably doesn't need promoting!