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.