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I have always throught it a bit odd that "Community Rail Partnerships" just look(ed) after the branch lines. They originated out of the obvious 'need' to stimulate traffic via ownership on services that were struggling to carry more that freah air around - fair enough - and have grown a little from that.   But why not take them all the way through to commuter and main lines, where a sense of ownership and community can do no harm that I can see, and could do plenty of good.

So I am delighted to read about what may be the first main line community rail partnership

From The Courier (http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/perth-kinross/full-steam-ahead-for-highland-rail-initiative-1.910545)

Oooh, we must try again.

Several years ago, The local stations between Oxford & Banbury tried to form a CRP and were rebuffed for "being on a mainline".....

Definitions and criteria have changed over time.  There has been some  tightening of the application of guidelines over the years, but also some relaxations - and one of the major concerns (in the past) has been the desire to ensure that 'signups' are there for the longer term. So that fact that a group says "again" acts in its favour in this case, rather than against it because of precedent.  I would be happy discuss our experiences ... (that offer open to others I know are interested too)

The Severnside CRP covers a large mileage of mainline from Gloucester to Taunton and Bristol to Bath.

Arguably, the Cotswold Line is also mainline as it has Class 1 services end to end.

But it isn't a CRP....

And Heart of Wessex CRP also covers - err - Bristol to Bath  ;D

Both cover significant none-main-line mileages and station groups too, though.

We're not talking that further step of designation here, but as an illustration of how things have changed, there were originally designated lines, and the designated service category was added later to cope with little services on big lines.

The Cotswold Line Promotion Group is a full member of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships. It's activities match those of other full ACORP members. Therefore, I'd say it is one.

Amusing acronym you've created with your bold letters in that last post, BNM.  Accidental...?   ;)

.

 

Yep, accidental. Perils of using word processing app on phone for two things at once. I was typing a document and I'd set it to bold the first character in a numbered list. Sometimes use the same app for forum posts, then cut and paste, as it can be a nightmare composing posts here on an Android device. I get some strange things happen in the forum text boxes from time to time. Seems I've found another one.

Do we know what stations the Highland line CRP covers. As it was held at Pitlochry I presumme Perth to inverness.

What about the Kyle and Wick/Thurso lines they would seem ideal for a CRP?

But can't be a*rsed to edit it now it's been pointed out? Hmmm

The 'Three Rivers' CRP that started out looking after the various minor stations of the 'Romsey 6' service on the Salisbury - Eastleigh via Chandler's Ford has subsequently brought Redbridge, Millbrook, Swaythling and St Denys into their coverage.   Does that count as main line in this context?

Paul

The article says:

and it's called the Highland Main Line CRP, so its probably not the lines beyond Inverness.

CRPs were very much an English thing until a quite recently.   But looking back to the start of last year, only one English CRP has joined ACoRP to my knowledge, and a number of Scottish ones.  Perhaps we'll see the Kyle line and / or the Far North line getting into the CRP fold ... although I think both have groups / passenger associaitions / supports already, so benefits may be limited - or might even be detrimetal in terms of fragmenting supporters of the line between too many organisations.

Thanks Graham, so it's basically the stations on the Highand Mainline between Perth and Inverness exclusive.

Those are the ones the article and sources don't list any others.

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/rail/rail-information/community-rail-partnerships


http://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/2015/11/11/new-community-rail-partnership-for-the-highlands


From a year ago:

http://www.tactran.gov.uk/documents/140909Item8CommunityRailPartnershipsProgressUpdate.pdf

As further comment on the Scottish CRPs, their roots come from the governmental (at various levels) drive to set them up, as they're identified as forces for the positive, with local community not being the initial instigator or even involved at the very early point.   The model that ChrisB alludes to is the local community asking first with the governmental and rail elements partners being invited and becoming partners, rather than the other way. Probably fair to say we have both models in the GWR and near-GWR area, although the former model as used in Scotland is much the most common.  I can talk through the latter model as it's the TransWilts one if anyone's interested, and indeed have been encouraged by our partners to do so with people wondering if they should wish to take a serious look at setting up such for the long term; the 'right' CRP can do so much for a line, the community, and indeed the operator too.

May take you up on that...will IM you soon

No. Because the post has been referenced in subsequent posts. If I edit, your and II's responses make no sense.

On your own there then. Checked last night - CLPG do NOT consider themselves a CRP - more the second largest User Group in the country.

Tomato, tomato.

Potato, potato.




Oh, hang on. That doesn't work written down.

The Cotswold Line Promotion Group (CLPG) will no doubt be tendering their resignation from full membership (http://www.acorp.uk.com/membership.html#Membership) of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) forthwith, then?  :P

Go cherck their membership....there's a large minority who aren't CRPs....

So, the Association of Community Rail Partnerships is not what it says 'on the tin' (an Association of Community Rail Partnerships), since it doesn't only contain Community Rail Partnerships?

From Chris' link:

How does one cherck?

Membership is a public list at http://www.acorp.uk.com/membership.html