From
the Hexham CourantThe amount of hours Tyne Valley rail volunteers dedicate revealed
Members of a grassroots rail movement have continued to strive for England’s northern communities and work towards a greener transport future, despite the pandemic, and are looking forward to supporting local recovery.
Figures from Community Rail Network’s Community Rail in the North report – sponsored by Rail Delivery Group - highlight that more than 3,000 volunteers give 140,000 hours annually to support social inclusion, sustainable and healthy travel, wellbeing, economic development, and tourism in their local area, valued at £11.7 million.
Making up 20 community rail partnerships and 350 station groups from across northern England - from the Tyne Valley in Northumberland to Crewe in Cheshire - they engage local people with their railways and stations, working with train operators, local authorities, and other partners.
Across the north, groups are involved in community gardening, food growing and biodiversity projects on station land; the creation of heritage boards or community artwork to help people learn about and take pride in their area; volunteering at stations to create a safe and attractive environment for passengers; work with rail industry partners towards improvements, such as better shelters, signage or pedestrian and cyclist access.
Community rail across the north is now looking forward to playing a pivotal role in building back better from Covid, and helping our railways to be a vital component of a greener, more inclusive way forward as part of a ‘green recovery’.
My bolding ... looking forward to helping build back better in the South too. This is not a regional issue!
