Community Rail Partnerships
Community Rail Partnerships draw together train operators, Network Rail, local authorities and users to raise awareness of the railway in the local community, promote and market it more effectively, develop ideas and arrange funding for local improvements.
What are Community Rail Partnerships?
Partnerships can be established on rural lines, local lines in urban areas, or local stations on main lines. The Department for Transport (DfT) is responsible for the Community Rail Development Strategy. At the heart of the Strategy is the idea of a Community Rail Partnership (CRP) made up of the railway operator and local stakeholders focused on developing and promoting one or more lines and supported by Network Rail.
Community Rail Partnerships are supported and represented by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) and this small organisation receives most of its funding from the (DfT).
The Association of Community Rail Partnerships – ACoRP
What is ACoRP
The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) focus on practical initiatives which add up to a better more sustainable local railway. Improved station facilities, better train services and improved integration with other forms of transport are central to the work of ACoRP.
The Government’s Community Rail Development Strategy provides a framework for partnerships to improve the effectiveness of local railways in meeting social, environmental and economic benefits.
What do ACoRP do?
Amongst many other tasks, ACoRP:
- works with decision-makers at a local, regional and national level to ensure that local rail’s important role is fully recognised
- helps identify innovative solutions for local railways
- shares examples of good practice
- works with local stakeholders to develop new partnerships
Community Rail Partnerships are a bridge between the railway and local communities. 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.
Where are the Community Rail Partnerships?
There are Community Rail Partnerships across the National Rail network, but most cover rural stations or railway lines.
| Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership Watford Junction – St Albans Abbey
Arun Valley CRP Three Bridges - Warnham, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, Chichester Barton Line CRP Barton on Humber - Cleethorpes Bittern Line Partnership Norwich – Sheringham Borderlands Line CRP Wrexham – Bidston Cambrian Rail Partnership Shrewsbury – Aberystwyth, Dovey Junction – Pwllheli Chester – Shrewsbury Rail Partnership Clitheroe Line CRP Clitheroe – Manchester Victoria Conwy Valley Rail Initiative Llandudno – Blaenau Ffestiniog Cotswold Line Promotion Group Oxford – Worcester – Hereford Derwent Valley Line CRP Nottingham - Derby – Matlock Devon & Cornwall CRP Exeter – Barnstaple/Exmouth, Par – Newquay, Truro – Falmouth, Plymouth – Gunnislake, St Erth – St Ives East Lancashire CRP Colne - Preston East Suffolk CRP Ipswich - Lowestoft, Ipswich – Felixstowe Esk Valley Railway Development Co Middlesbrough – Whitby Essex & South Suffolk Rail Partnership Manningtree – Harwich, Marks Tey – Sudbury, Thorpe-le-Soken – Walton/Clacton, Southminster – Wickford Friends of the Derwent Valley Line Grantham – Skegness CRP (The Poacher Line) also covers Nottingham - Grantham Heart of Wales Line Forum Swansea – Shrewsbury Heritage Line CRP: Darlington – Bishop Auckland |
Hope Valley & High Peak Transport Partnership Manchester – Sheffield, Buxton and Glossop routes
Isle of Wight CRP Ryde Pier - Shanklin Kent & Medway Rural Transport Partnership Lymington - Brockenhurst CRP Mid Cheshire CRP Manchester – Northwich – Chester Marston Vale CRP Bedford - Bletchley North Cheshire Rail Users’ Group: Chester – Warrington North Staffordshire CRP Derby – Stoke - Crewe Penistone Line CRP Huddersfield – Sheffield Settle-Carlisle Railway Development Co Leeds – Settle – Carlisle Seven Beach Line Severn Beach – Bristol Temple Meads South Fylde CRP: Preston – Blackpool South South Pennines CRP Huddersfield - Manchester Victoria, Bradford - Manchester Victoria, Huddersfield – Sheffield Sussex CRP Ashford – Hastings, Oxted – Uckfield, Oxted – East Grinstead, Lewes – Seaford – Brighton Stranraer – Ayr Line Support Association SwaleRail CRP Sittingbourne – Sheerness Three Rivers Community Rail Lines around Southampton Tyne Valley CRP Newcastle – Carlisle Wessex Rail Partnership Bristol - Weymouth West of Lancashire CRP Wigan – Southport, Preston – Ormskirk Wherry Lines CRP Norwich – Lowestoft, Norwich – Great Yarmouth. Yorkshire Coast CRP – Hull – Bridlington - Scarborough |
More information
You can find more information about Community Rail Partnerships, you can contact the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) or the Department for Transport (DfT).
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