Community Rail Partnerships act as a link between the railway and local communities. They are about positive development, bringing together a wide range of interests along the rail corridor. Some partnerships have been instrumental in achieving spectacular increases in use of rail through innovative marketing, improved services and better station facilities.
Their work includes improving bus links to stations, developing walking and cycling routes, bringing station buildings back to life, art and education projects and organising special events which promote the railway and its relevance to the community.
Penistone Line
Locally the Penistone Line Partnership is the Railway Development Company for the Penistone Line. The section of line between Huddersfield and Barnsley has been designated as a community rail line by the Department for Transport and is one of six pilot projects within their Community Rail Strategy.
The PLP is working with Metro and South Yorkshire PTE, local authorities, Northern and Network Rail to increase patronage and reduce costs along the line, and to develop projects and activities which benefit local communities. Activities planned include regular guided walks from stations along the line, live music with a bar on evening trains throughout the year, work with local schools on educational projects and station adoption. Art Along the Penistone Line is coming to Penistone station soon. If you want further details of any of the above or would like to get involved in activities along the line please see the link opposite.
South Pennines
A new partnership has recently been established, the South Pennines Rail Partnership, to provide a sub-regional link between the Huddersfield - Barnsley, the Huddersfield - Manchester Victoria and Bradford - Manchester Victoria/ Huddersfield via Calder Valley local rail routes, and support the PLP and emerging station adoption groups at places such as Mytholmroyd, Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Penistone. The creation of the SPRP has brought a new face to the scene, Rowena Chantler. Her email address is rowena@southpenninesrail.co.uk . Her range of work is wide and will include developing certain stations as South Pennines gateways, bringing disused railway property back into community or leisure use, promoting links from the rail network to the surrounding areas by walking, cycling and community transport, work with socially excluded communities, and projects with schools to encourage rail travel awareness. The SPRP is supported by Northern, West Yorkshire Rural Transport Partnership, Kirklees Council, Greater Manchester PTE and works closely with Pennine Prospects, British Waterways, other local authorities and organisations to achieve its objectives.
Community strategies
Northern, the local rail operator in Yorkshire and the North of England, launched their Community Strategy in March 2007. It represents a major part of their commitment to corporate social responsibility. It sets out their approach to working with, and supporting, communities across the North of England. To find out more download a copy of Northern's Community Rail Strategy in pdf file format (1235k pdf file).
You can also read the Department for Transport's recent Review of Community Rail Development Strategy.
