News
Rail Trails
A new collaboration to help develop a set of ‘Rail Trails’ in the region has begun between the Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership, the Worcester Ramblers and a University of Worcester academic.
The trails are walking routes that link railway stations. The idea is that the public either walk a stretch of new path and come back to the start point on the train or do it the opposite way round.
The trails will be developed utilising the existing knowledge of the area’s walking routes supplied by Worcester Ramblers’ Lyndon Bracewell, the walking guide design and mapping expertise of the University’s Graphic Design Lecturer, Andy Stevenson, and the funding support of the Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership.
Key figures in the Worcestershire Rail Trails project
Left to right: Andy Stevenson, Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design at the University of Worcester, Lyndon Bracewell, a member of the Worcester Ramblers, and William Whiting, Chair of Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership.
To date the team – who all work part time on the project – have been developing, assessing and testing the individual walks to be involved in the project’s first phase while also evolving a visual identity that will now percolate through all further project outputs.
William Whiting, Chair of Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership, said: “I am very excited to promote linear walks trails from stations in Worcestershire. Many other areas of the country have walks from stations as a way of encouraging use of local rail services and at the same time promoting healthy lifestyles. As a keen walker I believe the best way to see the countryside is by walking and these rail trails will provide the opportunity to explore some lovely parts of Worcestershire.”
The first phase is a 42-mile-long walking trail linking all 8 stations on the Worcestershire section of the ‘Cotswold Line’ between Great Malvern and Honeybourne. Further phases will link Worcester to all stations in the north of the County.
Lyndon Bracewell of Worcester Ramblers is developing and checking the routes with the help and local knowledge of other local members as well as the County Council’s Public Rights of Way team.
“I was keen to find a way to encourage more people to explore the County’s wonderful countryside and in a healthy and sustainable way,” he said. “Providing walking opportunities using the existing local rail network was an ideal way of achieving this. Even though I already knew the area quite well, I’ve been really surprised at how scenic and interesting the routes are.”
The team is aiming to have an initial tranche of outputs ready as downloadable pdf guide sheets and corresponding GPX files that can be used on walking apps in the New Year.
Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design at the University, Andy Stevenson, said: “This is a lovely ‘live’ collaboration between local organisations that fits with the Graphic Design course’s initiative to evolve ‘Design for community good’ where we aim to support charitable or community organisations with our various skillsets. In addition, this project’s aims, and outputs are also allied to some of my own research interests within my part-time PhD studies. As such it’s also an example of how ongoing research in the design and visual communications area at the University can provide practical help via knowledge exchange projects within the community too.”
A new development blog helping to document the project’s progress has also been developed and this can be seen at rail-trails.blogspot.com
Rail Trails – developing, assessing and testing the individual walks progresses
Key figures in the Worcestershire Rail Trails project
Left to right: Andy Stevenson, Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design at the University of Worcester, Lyndon Bracewell, a member of the Worcester Ramblers, and (the late) William Whiting, Chair of Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership.
A new collaboration to help develop a set of ‘Rail Trails’ in the region has begun between the Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership, the Worcester Ramblers and a University of Worcester academic.
The trails are walking routes that link railway stations. The idea is that the public either walk a stretch of new path and come back to the start point on the train or do it the opposite way round.
The trails will be developed utilising the existing knowledge of the area’s walking routes supplied by Worcester Ramblers’ Lyndon Bracewell, the walking guide design and mapping expertise of the University’s Graphic Design Lecturer, Andy Stevenson, and the funding support of the Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership.
The team – who all work part time on the project – have been developing, assessing and testing the individual walks to be involved in the project’s first phase while also evolving a visual identity that will now percolate through all further project outputs.
William Whiting, Chair of Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership, said: “I am very excited to promote linear walks trails from stations in Worcestershire. Many other areas of the country have walks from stations as a way of encouraging use of local rail services and at the same time promoting healthy lifestyles. As a keen walker I believe the best way to see the countryside is by walking and these rail trails will provide the opportunity to explore some lovely parts of Worcestershire.”
The first phase is a 42-mile-long walking trail linking all 8 stations on the Worcestershire section of the ‘Cotswold Line’ between Great Malvern and Honeybourne. Further phases will link Worcester to all stations in the north of the County.
Lyndon Bracewell of Worcester Ramblers is developing and checking the routes with the help and local knowledge of other local members as well as the County Council’s Public Rights of Way team.
“I was keen to find a way to encourage more people to explore the County’s wonderful countryside and in a healthy and sustainable way,” he said. “Providing walking opportunities using the existing local rail network was an ideal way of achieving this. Even though I already knew the area quite well, I’ve been really surprised at how scenic and interesting the routes are.”
The team is aiming to have an initial tranche of outputs ready as downloadable pdf guide sheets and corresponding GPX files that can be used on walking apps in the New Year.
Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design at the University, Andy Stevenson, said: “This is a lovely ‘live’ collaboration between local organisations that fits with the Graphic Design course’s initiative to evolve ‘Design for community good’ where we aim to support charitable or community organisations with our various skillsets. In addition, this project’s aims, and outputs are also allied to some of my own research interests within my part-time PhD studies. As such it’s also an example of how ongoing research in the design and visual communications area at the University can provide practical help via knowledge exchange projects within the community too.”
A new development blog helping to document the project’s progress has also been developed and this can be seen at rail-trails.blogspot.com
Names and Winners announced – Name the Line competition 2021
The Wyre Valley Line
The line from Hagley to Droitwich Spa forms part of the route from Great Malvern to the West Midlands.
The Saltway Line
The line from Barnt Green to Droitwich Spa is part of the Worcester to Birmingham New Street route.
The Arrow Valley Line
The line from Barnt Green to Redditch is part of the CrossCity South commuter network.
Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership have announced the three winners from their Name the Line competition.
The line to Droitwich Spa via Bromsgrove to Barnt Green was named by Sue Lloyd and her winning suggestion was the Saltway Line. The Wyre Valley Line was named by Peter McNougher and covers the route serving the towns of Hagley, Blakedown, Kidderminster and Hartlebury. Last, but by no means least, is the line including the stations of Barnt Green, Alvechurch and Redditch which has been named the Arrow Valley Line by Margaret Evans. The winners were announced at Worcester Guildhall during the Rail Partnership’s second Anniversary event on Friday 12th November. They received a commemorative memento from Alan Amos, Worcestershire County Council Cabinet member for Transportation.
Colin Major Vice Chair Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership said, “We are delighted that all 18 stations in Worcestershire are now linked to named lines enabling the Community Rail Partnership to promote travel by rail and the stations not only to the local communities, but also to attract visitors to the businesses and places of interest served by the lines.”
The Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership are working with local communities to create Station Adoption Groups of volunteers who enhance station environments and build local pride in the facilities. One of the latest groups is the Friends of Droitwich Spa Railway Station who started in May and have already cleared and planted flowers in the flower beds and have exciting plans to make the station a more warming and friendly environment to catch a train.
WCRP welcomes new partnership officer – Fiona Saxon
WCRP welcomes new partnership officer
Fiona Saxon has taken up the role of Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership Officer following her predecessor’s retirement. She has been involved with engagement work for over 20 years, working with business, communities, charities and tertiary education to facilitate partnerships and enhance community involvement. Fiona has worked for diverse industries such as shipbuilding, banking, electronics and with government and the voluntary sector. This has provided her with an insight into many different working practices and objectives.
Fiona believes wholeheartedly in life-long learning and has recently completed a BA in History after taking time out of the workplace to fulfil a long held ambition.
She is particularly keen to bring railway stations into the heart of the communities they serve providing opportunities for residents to take ownership of the area they live in and thus help to shape their future while promoting sustainable travel.
Working with residents, volunteers, stakeholders and rail and station staff, Fiona will support them to create environments that are welcoming, vibrant and conducive to regeneration. ‘It will be a challenging yet rewarding role and I’m looking forward to meeting communities in Worcestershire’.
October 2021
Stitch Train Artwork – See all 18 Stitch Train Tapestries
Stitch Train Artwork Event
23rd July Guildhall
See all 18 Stitch Train Tapestries.
On display together in the Lower Hall, Guildhall, Worcester WR1 2EY.
10.30am – 2.30pm
On display together in the Lower Hall, Guildhall, Worcester WR1 2EY.
10.30am – 2.30pm