Community Rail Lancashire is pleased to be able to announce that along with its four constituent CRPs it has now received official accreditation by the Department for Transport.
Accreditation is formal recognition by the DfT that the Community Rail Partnership (CRP) operates to a high standard and that its objectives and activities are supported by the Government.
Accreditation is in place to provide reassurance to others, including potential funders and partners that the CRP operates to high standards of governance and financial propriety; adopts a collaborative approach; is worthy of trust by others; and is a suitable entity for receiving public funds. Further, the Government considers the CRP a good representative of the local communities.
Richard Watts, Chair Community Rail Lancashire said:
“The accreditation of Community Rail Lancashire (CRL) and its four constituent Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) is a fantastic achievement. It shows that the hard work of the CRL team, the management groups of the CRPs as well as the army of volunteers who do such tremendous work at stations across Lancashire is formally recognised by the Department for Transport (DfT). It also means that CRL is delivering the 4 pillars of the DfT’s recently relaunched Community Rail Development Strategy”
Richard went on to say: “CRL will continue to develop its pioneering engagement with young people through its ‘Passengers of the Future’ and ‘Railway Confidence’ programmes; share best practice through the Education Network that it hosts; continue to support train service developments that support communities and get people to where they need to be and developments such as the improvement of physical access at stations such as Accrington and Burnley Manchester Rd as well as infrastructure developments such as the passing loop on the South Fylde Line that will enable an improved service to be provided. CRL is proud of this achievement and will use as a lever to doing even more for the communities it serves.”
Marjorie Birch, Chair Clitheroe Line & East Lancashire CRPs said:
“The Clitheroe and East Lancashire Line Community Rail Partnerships are delighted that they have received accreditation from the Department for Transport. This is recognition for the hard work undertaken by all involved in the Partnership, the staff members of CRL, the members of the Management Committee and our volunteers in the Friends of Stations groups. The Partnership has been involved in the development of the new Todmorden Curve service and the half hourly service from Blackburn to Manchester Victoria. These offer opportunities to commuters, students and others for greater travel options.”
Marjorie continued; “Accreditation is the gateway to further funding opportunities which will enable the Partnership to develop further projects, which improve the travel experience for our passengers whether that be developments at stations, improved connectivity or new services.”
Tony Ford, Chair South Fylde Line CRP said:
“It is really pleasing to learn that the South Fylde Line has achieved DfT accreditation as a Community Rail Partnership. This is another boost for the line as campaigners continue to press for a passing loop which will allow for a half-hourly train service along the route.”
“The CRP is actively pursuing and supporting step-free access at Squires Gate station and has been supporting a number of Station Friends groups at various points along the line.”