Community rail partnership achieves national success

Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership (CRP), of which we are a partner, has been recognised for its innovative work engaging communities with their local railway line.

It was a finalist in three categories at the awards, coming in:

• second place for Most Effective Communications Campaign with its Pass on a Smile campaign
• third place in the Involving Diverse Groups category with its Our Line Connections
• a finalist in the Involving Children and Young People category with Creative Journeys

Supporting more sustainable communities 

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: "We're delighted to see the Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership highly commended at the Community Rail Awards. It's a real achievement to be recognised nationally, particularly for its work in engaging local communities.

"The Bishop Line can offer many benefits to County Durham. As well as opening opportunities to residents, it can help to build greener, better-connected communities, that have a positive impact on all those who live, work in and visit the county."

The awards recognise the crucial, often unsung work carried out by community rail partnerships, station volunteers and community groups, in areas such as community and youth engagement, community-led station development, diversity and inclusion, and sustainable development.

Robert Whitehouse, Chair of the Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership, said: "Our partnership is incredibly proud to have been recognised at this year's national community rail awards for three of our recent projects. We work very closely with our local community, and are proud to share these achievements with them, and thank them for their involvement."