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.
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.
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.
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).
The Department for Transport's recent Review of Community Rail Development Strategy is available
Upcoming Events 2007
Guided Walks
The Penistone Line Partnership organises regular guided walks from the line. The next walks are planned for Saturdays 17 May, 7, 21 June, 5, 19 July, 2 and 16 August 2008, also Sunday 18 May 2008.
The Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line have an busy programme of guided walks from the S & C and Morecambe lines throughout the year.
The Friends of DalesRail also organise regular walks from West Yorkshire using rail services (see www.friendsofdalesrail.org ).
Music Trains
Regular evening music trains run on the Penistone Line, usually on specific Mondays. The next music trains are planned for Friday 16 May and Sunday 18 May. The regular Monday trains continue on 2 June, 7 July, 4 August, 1 September, 6 October and 22 December 2008. These use the 1918 Huddersfield and 2041 Sheffield return trains. Normal train fares apply. Contact the Penistone Line Partnership for details.
Community Rail Weekend 16-18 May 2008
National Community Rail Weekend is coming up again, promoted by ACoRP, and all around the country Community Rail Partnerships, Station Friends and supporters of rural railways will be getting out and about promoting their local railway over the weekend.
In the West Yorkshire area on the Penistone Line there is the Shepley Spring Festival in connection with which the Penistone Line Partnership will operate music trains on Friday 16 and Sunday 18 May. There will be a guided walk from Shepley on the evening of Friday 16 May and other walks from the line on Saturday and Sunday. The South Pennines Rail Partnership will provide guided walks from Marsden, Littleborough and Stalybridge stations on Saturday 17 May and from Hebden Bridge on Sunday 18 May. The South Pennines Challenge charity walk will take place from Mytholmroyd on Saturday. Lancashire DalesRail trains from Blackpool North and Preston via the Settle - Carlisle line to Carlisle and return run on Sunday 18 May with guided walks from Ribblehead and Appleby stations. Regular walks from the Settle - Carlisle and Leeds - Morecambe lines continue on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays.
Also on Saturday the PLP will provide a free bus service from Honley station to Castle Hill and the SPRP in conjunction with British Waterways will provide free drinks at Standedge Visitor Centre to those with rail tickets to Marsden. On Sunday 18 May there will be a gala screening of "The General" at Penistone Paramount cinema accompanied by the Compton organ.
Extra Summer Trains on the Esk Valley Line
As in previous years Northern will run additional evening trains on the Esk Valley Line from Middlesbrough to Whitby on Fridays 18, 25 July, 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 August and 5 September 2008 as well as Monday 4 August for Whitby Regatta. These depart Middlesbrough at 2044 arriving Whitby at 2208, and depart Whitby at 2225 arriving Middlesbrough at 2349.
