The Cumbrian Coast Line Community Rail Partnership has been highly praised for their innovative work promoting accessible and active travel.
Working in collaboration with Northern Trains Ltd and three local Day Services groups – West House, Carlisle Day Services and Allerdale & Copeland Day Opportunities – the CRP’s latest project, “Beyond the Home” has created a series of unique display panels promoting local walks, trails, cycle routes, nature and heritage.
Funded by the Northern Accessibility Innovation Scheme, the panels are being installed at railway stations along the Cumbrian Coast Line. They are accompanied by an attractive paper leaflet which, despite the popularity of digital information, remains a valuable resource to many, especially people living with disabilities.
But this wasn’t just about the displays, the project provided an exciting opportunity for people who access day services to develop their personal skills and increase their self-confidence. They were involved with project research and planning, rail safety, working with timetables, engaging with ticket office staff and conductors, using ticket vending machines and everyone particularly enjoyed travelling along the amazing Cumbrian Coast Line. This project has enabled people with disabilities to travel safely, confidently and independently.
Local media company, Adamedia, has produced a wonderful case study film capturing the story of the various organisations coming together in workshops to share ideas and experiences which shaped the concept for the panels and leaflets. The film demonstrates the positivity of collaborative working and will be a useful resource for other Community Rail Partnerships and groups across the UK undertaking similar projects.
The panels and leaflet were produced by local print company Firpress and introduce our new friend ‘Travis the Train Traveller’ who will feature in future projects along the Cumbrian Coast Line.
Accessibility along the line continues to be a challenge with Victorian infrastructure and a lack of investment. Beyond the Home has highlighted many of the issues creating barriers to independent travel and is raising awareness of the need for improvements.
The official launch took place on Monday 25 March at Cumbria House where the panels and leaflets were unveiled to an audience of nearly fifty people with the case study film being shown on a big screen in the background. The panels are due to installed at selected stations during April along with the release of the official film.
Craig Harrop, Regional Director for Northern, said: “We believe that train travel should be easier for everyone – but it is important that we continue that support once customers step off the train.
By collaborating on projects like ‘Beyond the Home’ we’re helping to increase active and accessible travel along the Cumbrian Coast Line.”
Warren Birch – Community Rail Partnership Officer said: “It was wonderful working with the different organisations, and particularly the people who access the services who are the real stars of the Beyond the Home project.
To see their initial ideas develop into the end products was inspiring, as was the positive change in people’s self-esteem and confidence. Community Rail Cumbria hope that people will travel by train to visit hidden gem destinations all along the West Cumbrian coast.”
Annamarie Armstrong – Locality Manager for Cumberland Day Services said: “Cumberland Day Services are proud to be part of Beyond the Home project and the opportunity to work in collaboration with other services and organisations to raise the profile of the people we support and deliver a valuable resource to the people of Cumbria.
It has been an empowering experience for everyone involved to see the amazing achievements of the people we support, the opportunity for them to share their skills and knowledge and lived experiences and insight into disabilities and to learn about the Cumbria railway stations and surrounding communities and to share this new learning and confidence with others has been inspiring.”
Lisa Rumney – West House said: “Our guys really enjoy using the train service to get them out into the wider community, we hope to continue working in partnership and look at other ways to develop accessibility at train stations.”