The Heart of Wessex Line Westbury White Horse on the Heart of Wessex Line Heart of Wessex signal box Bridges along the Heart of Wessex Line Balloon Flights at Bristol near the Heart of Wessex Line Shopping at towns along the Heart of Wessex
The Heart of Wessex Line Heart of Wessex Logo Bristol to Weymouth Through the Heart of Wessex Through the Heart of Wessex Heart of Wessex calling at all stations along the way
home
Heart of Wessex route
Wssex rail connections
Bristol to Weymouth rail partnership

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GRANTS

Community projects have also included local "insiders' guides", guided walks from train stations, special events and simplified local timetables. Some of these are included as resources for our destinations on the line map to the right.

Representatives of local groups make up the "Community Rail Working Party" chaired by John Hill. This group of up to 25 people meets up with First Great Western and Network Rail once a quarter to work intensively on everything from timetable and service improvements to ideas for enhancing stations. The group also carries out special surveys, including annual passenger counts and the "Overcrowding Watch", a study that supplied hard evidence to justify an extra train to serve Weymouth on summer Saturdays.

Several of our community rail contributors have received awards, either as first place winners or runners up, from the national Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACORP).




Sally Falkingham, Maiden Newton. Outstanding Volunteer Contribution 2006 (1st)


Andy Hutchings, Weymouth & Upwey
Outstanding Volunteer Contribution 2008


Dave Walden, Bradford on Avon
Outstanding Rail Staff Contribution 2008


Terry Gough & Dorset County Council, Thornford
Local Transport Integration 2008 (1st)

Castle Cary Sustainable Tourism Group, Local Station Environment
Award 2009

David Greening, Yeovil Pen Mill and Thornford, Outstanding Volunteer Contribution,
2009 (1st)


In 2010, First Great Western and its local partnerships received the overall award for its contribution to national Community Rail development. South West Trains, with whom we work on community rail projects at Upwey and Weymouth, received this overall Community Rail award in 2008.

bristol
keynsham
oldfield
bath
freshford
avoncliff
bradford
trowbridge
westbury
frome
bruton
castle cary
yeovil
thornford
yetminster
chetnole
maiden newton
dorchester
upwey
weymouth
 

 

 

HOME | ROUTE | PARTNERSHIP | COMMUNITIES | EXPLORING | SHOPPING