Great Western Railway and partners scoop top rail industry award
Great Western Railway and its community rail partners have walked away with the top award at this year’s ACoRP Community Rail Awards, and won a further six awards.
Hosted at the Southport Conference Centre last night (Thursday 29 September), GWR won the Overall Winner 2016 award alongside their community rail partners and volunteers; took first place in no less than four other categories; a further second place award for Best Marketing Campaign, and a third place Best Community Engagement Event award.
GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said:
"I am delighted that both GWR and our Community Rail Partners have been so publicly recognised in this way. Having been shortlisted in 13 of 14 categories, it is wonderful to win the top award.
“Throughout the Great Western Railway network community rail groups play a leading role, adding value to projects designed to improve services and make stations safer, friendlier and greener.”
As well as the Overall Winner Award, GWR won first place for: Community Art Schemes with the Devon and Cornwall CRP; Most Enhanced Station Buildings and Environments with the Severnside CRP; Best Marketing Campaign with the Transwilts CRP for our Weymouth Wizard service, and the Passengers Matter Award for communication of the east of bath line closure.
A second place award was won for: Best Marketing Campaign with the Devon and Cornwall CRP, encouraging families to take the train; and a third place award for Best Community Engagement Event with the Devon and Cornwall CRP for station mural painting.
This year’s awards saw every community rail partnership across the Great Western network shortlisted for an award including: the Devon and Cornwall Community Rail Partnership; the Severnside Community Rail Partnership; the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership; the Heart of Wessex Community Rail Partnership and Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership.
Friends of Copplestone Station and Ashchurch Tewkesbury District Rail Promotion Group have also had entries shortlisted.
The awards recognise the fundamental role community rail plays in maintaining and improving the railway network.
At the award ceremony Rail Minister Paul Maynard MP also announced the Community Rail designation of the Transwilts line – now one of only 19 designated lines in the UK.