1. Passenger growth, creativity and community rail – opportunities for the bus industry

2. What is Community Rail?
Community Rail (CR) involves local people in the development and promotion of local and rural routes, services and stations. It also encourages the community to get directly involved improving the railway environment through use of redundant buildings, provision of additional services such as cafes and the improvement of railway land.
In most respects, community rail routes are no different from the rest of the railway.

3. Community Rail Principles:
Can Do, Innovative
Expert in Creative Partnership working
Imaginative promotion & marketing
Growing patronage
Aiding local economic growth
Reducing costs
Volunteer/Community involvement

4. Community rail lines and services are part of the commercial rail network accounting for around 40 million journeys per year.

5. Community railways aim to:
Increase revenue
Reduce costs
Increase community involvement
Support social and economic development

6. Support is usually provided through a Community Rail Partnership (CRP) comprising the railway operator, local councils and other community organisations. Around 4,000 volunteers work in community rail contributing over 1.2 million hours of work, bringing around £27 million of extra value to the rail industry. Research has shown that for every £1 invested in a CRP it can bring £4.60 in benefits.

7. Quality Bus Partnerships
Community Bus Partnerships??

8. How might CR work in the bus world? (1)
Look at routes that need more passengers
Encourage volunteers to take an interest in a local route
On bus activities – music, poetry, local info
Promoting area along route – walks, pubs, shops, cafes,places of interest etc

9. How might CR work in the bus world? (2)
Getting schools involved, posters at bus stops & stations & on buses, school trips
Utilising local rail expertise to link rail & bus – integrated transport!
Social media
Enthusiastic bus operator & bus staff

10. Re-imagine the bus world – with a can-do attitude and the community on side ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
Forget big budgets this is about creative partnership working
Mid Cheshire Rail Line – 164% growth in passengers over 10 years

11. A Community Rail Bus initiative
“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” Molière
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust

12. For further information contact:
Sally Buttifant, Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership
Tel: ,