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£1m for small community/heritage rail projects

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bluenoxid

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The Department for Transport have offered £1m for projects to encourage more people to travel by rail

Any suggestions?

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-1-million-competition-to-boost-rail-tourism

A £1 million competition to encourage more visitors to travel by rail to see hidden gems across the UK is today (1 March 2016) launched by the Department for Transport.


The competition will offer grants to rail operators for innovative ideas and trials and is aimed particularly at heritage railways and community rail partnerships. It hopes to encourage more tourists and make it easier to explore the UK by rail.


The competition is expected to generate around 20 winners, who will receive grants ranging from £25,000 to £75,000 to develop their ideas.
Projects could include:

  • improving the connectivity of heritage and community rail
  • improved disability access
  • special ticketing offers
  • better cycle facilities at stations
The vast majority of heritage railways and community railways are outside London and one key objective is to encourage more tourists to travel to destinations beyond the capital....
 
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yorksrob

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Howabout fitting up a heritage unit to run a more intensive service on the Whitby branch during weekends ?

Generally allowing heritage lines to link up with the national network, i.e. doing a Swanage would be a good thing. Could be fitting the bells and whistles to heritage units to let them operate into the NR junction station (Minehead branch might be a good one).
 

route:oxford

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For me it would have to be funding towards the extension of the Strathspey Railway to Grantown-on-Spey.

(Perhaps this is the DfT offering the hand of friendship to VivaRail?)
 

Via Bank

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Adequately understandable, convenient and fault-tolerant ticketing, and prompt, precise and reliable customer information, for well-cleaned trains that are staffed by customer service professionals?

Thought not.
 

Bwsbro

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Adequately understandable, convenient and fault-tolerant ticketing, and prompt, precise and reliable customer information, for well-cleaned trains that are staffed by customer service professionals?

Thought not.

Now That is Fantasy Talking
 

WatcherZero

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Irony of course that the cost to the Dft of running the competition and the bidders preparing bids for grants will likely exceed the £1m fund on offer.
 

infobleep

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I like the idea but given the costs of running a railway and improving it, wonder if it will make much difference.
 

DarloRich

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Adequately understandable, convenient and fault-tolerant ticketing, and prompt, precise and reliable customer information, for well-cleaned trains that are staffed by customer service professionals?

Thought not.

Whilst a laudable ambition i think that might cost slightly more than the 25-75k available to each project ;)

I like the idea but given the costs of running a railway and improving it, wonder if it will make much difference.

it isn't about that though is it? it is about giving small scale projects a kick start. For instance it could pay for better signage along a line, or bike lockers at rural stations or fitting out a waiting room or buffet etc..

See the works done in the buildings at Ridgmont station on the Marston Vale line for an example.
 

Mvann

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But it's not £1m for one project. Could be used to provide some better disabled access coaches on some railways or convert some BGs, GUVs into cycle carrying vehicles.
 

yorksrob

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I suppose there's an argument that heritage railways should be providing disabled facilities as part of their day to day running anyway.

This grant opportunity seems to be very much about getting better connectivity to communities through existing rail links.

I think it's a brilliant idea anyway and hope some good ideas come out of it.
 

infobleep

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Whilst a laudable ambition i think that might cost slightly more than the 25-75k available to each project ;)



it isn't about that though is it? it is about giving small scale projects a kick start. For instance it could pay for better signage along a line, or bike lockers at rural stations or fitting out a waiting room or buffet etc..

See the works done in the buildings at Ridgmont station on the Marston Vale line for an example.
I'm sure your right. I was focusing to much on the better connectivity part.
 
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