This week has seen the annual National Community Rail Week taking place right across the country with community rail partnerships, friends groups and the rail industry busy highlighting the work that they do with the community.
Community Rail Lancashire has been busy all week starting on Monday 20th with a Fell Foodie Trip to Stoodley Pike led by Karen Bennett & Catherine Kingdom from the CRL team.
The same day saw Dave Savage leading a Feel Good Field Trip (Food Sorcery) trip to the Lake District to climb Gummers How.
Tuesday 21st saw another Feel Good Field Trip and CRL staff were helping out at an open Day on Manchester Piccadilly station that had been organised by Network Rail. Also on Tuesday Simon Clarke & Caroline Holden (ably assisted by Tony Ford) were across on the South Fylde line at Blackpool Pleasure Beach station ahead of the official launch the next day.
Wednesday 22nd was a very busy day in the pouring rain with activities on the South Fylde Line and on Merseyside. First was the ‘burying’ of a time capsule at St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea station as part of the 150th Anniversary Celebrations. Click here to see the press release Time Capsule Press Release and below for some photos of the event.
At the same time a group of volunteers from Network Rail, UR Potential, CRL and the local council set to clearing up rubbish and the undergrowth and Blackpool Pleasure Beach station followed by the official launch of the new artwork. The full press release can be read here Blackpool Pleasure Beach station spruced up! and some photos of the event can be seen below:
Also across on Merseyside at Bootle New Strand and Hightown stations Simon Clarke & Katie Douglas were installing some new ‘Hidden Gems’ artwork on the platforms.
Thursday 23rd was a big day for CRL as they threw open the doors of the bunker for an Open Day. The morning saw local primary school children in the bunker doing art work with Gosha Gibek and the Stations of Welcome along with members of the CRL team. They also had a a tour of the statio and a rail safety talk by a British Transport Police officer. Meanwhile upstairs in the booking hall CRL, Network Rail, Northern and the Prospects Foundation were bust handing out publicity and talking to passengers as they passed through. In the afternoon it was open house downstairs in the bunker to explain to visitors what CRL is all about and also to show the eco credentials of the station. To read the full press release click the link here CRL PRESS RELEASE Accrington Eco Station Open Day
Friday 24th saw Dave busy at Peel Park School with a rail safety and careers talk. Over at Newton Heath Train Care Centre a group of students from a Greater Manchester girls’ school visited one of the north’s busiest train depots to learn about opportunities supported by rail, as part of a nationwide ‘More Than a Railway’ campaign showcasing locally led activity helping communities get the most from their railways. To read the full press release click here North West CRW Press Release and a photo from the day can be seen below:
Image shows schoolgirls on a tour of Newton Heath TrainCare Centre