- Community Rail Awards celebrate the work of staff and volunteers to support local communities
- EMR, working with local partners and communities, is shortlisted for seven categories
- Winners are due to be announced in March
East Midlands Railway (EMR), along with its community partners, has been shortlisted in seven categories in the Community Rail Awards.
The UK-wide Community Rail Awards recognise the unsung heroes of the community rail world for their hard work and dedication. All the projects shortlisted below were funded by EMR’s Community Fund.
One project that impressed judges was the initiative to create a walking trail around Creswell Crags on the Robin Hood Line. Since the trail has been created, it has been used by children on school train trips and other educational visits.
EMR’s collaboration with its local communities and station adopters to commemorate Remembrance was also shortlisted.
The Routes of Remembrance project created a special poem which was read aloud as part of EMR’s annual event, held each year in partnership with the Veterans Charity.
The poem was created by Community Rail Partnership members and station adopters during a workshop run by creative writer, Via McNab. It is permanently displayed at both Derby and Nottingham stations alongside other Remembrance artwork, as well as being showcased in poster cases throughout EMR’s network.
Many other stations across EMR’s network were also decorated with poppies and war poems, creating a touching and respectful atmosphere. These included a stunning poppy display at Willington station and a powerful war poem, along with a poppy display, at Beeston station.
EMR is always thinking of ways to promote the visitor attractions along its network and its work with Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership and Heights of Abraham was praised and shortlisted in the tourism category.
The project featured a video using Heights of Abraham character Mrs Brassington, who is shown taking a trip on the Derwent Valley Line and up to the Heights of Abraham attraction to encourage people to travel by train.
Kettering Station Adopters were also nominated in the photo competition; the public can vote for their entry here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CRA2024
The winners will be announced at a high-profile awards ceremony in Swansea on Monday, March 18, 2024.
Kaye Robinson, Community Engagement Manager, said: ‘We are delighted to see so many of our community projects shortlisted in the Community Rail Awards. All of our partners work really hard to enhance and engage in the communities they live in, from encouraging sustainable travel for tourist attractions such as the Heights of Abraham and Creswell Crags to marking Remembrance through the medium of art. Being shortlisted is a true testament to the hard work that takes place all year, and we look forward to celebrating all of the successes in March next year.”
Full list of EMR projects shortlisted in the Community Rail Awards
- Involving Children and Young People – Robin Hood Line CRP for Children and Young peoples, Rail Safety Awareness/Active Travel
- Small Project Award – North Staffordshire CRP for Bee Friendly Cub Scouts at Tutbury and Hatton Station
- Best Community Engagement Project – EMR, CRPs in the East Midlands and The Veterans Charity for Routes of Remembrance
- Tourism and Leisure award – Robin Hood Line CRP for Creswell Crags Rail Discovery Trail
- Tourism and Leisure award – Derwent Valley Line CRP and Heights of Abraham for Mrs Brassington’s Big Day Out
- Photo Competition – Kettering Station Adopters for Dog Friendly Railway
It’s your station category
Bronze
- Longton Station Adopters
Silver
- Boston Station Adopters
- Great Coates in Bloom
- Friends of Kidsgrove Station Gardens
- Tutbury and Hatton Station Adopters
- Blythe Bridge Station Adopters
- Longton Station Adopters
