Category Archive: News

Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership endorsed by Government

The Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership (CRP) has received confirmation that it has been awarded accreditation status by the Department for Transport (DfT).

Accreditation is formal recognition by the DfT that a CRP operates to a high standard and that its objectives and activities are supported by Government. It is in place to provide assurance to others, including potential funders and partners, that the Bishop Line CRP operates to high standards of governance and financial propriety; adopts a collaborative approach; is worthy of trust by others; and is a suitable entity for receiving public funds. Further Government considers it a good representative of the local community.

Jools Townsend, chief executive of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership receive community rail accreditation. This underlines the value of their work, engaging and benefitting local communities in connection with their local railway and stations. As well as highlighting local needs and opportunities to rail industry partners, they have a keen focus on promoting sustainable and healthy travel, bringing local people together, supporting station-based volunteering, and supporting wider access to opportunity.”

Robert Whitehouse, chair of the Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership commented “I am absolutely delighted that the partnership has received accreditation from the Department for Transport. This underlines the great amount of work which has been undertaken by the community rail officer and the partners.”

Bishop Line CRP is engaging with its communities to help people get the most from their railways, promoting social inclusion and sustainable travel, working alongside train operators to bring about improvements, and bringing stations back to life. Some of the Bishop Line’s priorities highlighted in the accreditation meeting and annual plan include:

  • Recruit a more diverse and active membership by end March 2021
  • Customer Engagement through regular customer surveys
  • Community Engagement to understand the rail travel needs of the local community through station and community events and engagement meetings
  • Promote travelling by train to tourist attractions along the line
  • Work with Train Operating Company to provide a half hourly service
  • Work with Heritage lines more collaboratively to promote connecting services

The Accreditation meeting took place on Wednesday 27th November 2019 at Darlington Town Hall. Present were the chair and officer of the Bishop Line CRP, a representative of ACoRP, The Association of Community Rail Partnerships who are carrying out accreditation meetings on behalf of DfT, along with representatives from Northern and Cross Country.

The accreditation system for community rail partnerships in England and Wales commenced on 1st April 2019.

Membership of the Bishop Line CRP is open to those with an interest in the Bishop Line, in particular representatives of local charities, schools, groups and businesses. All are welcome to attend meetings and activities. To get involved please contact Felicity.Machnicki@BishopLine.org

Bishop Line Building Community Connections between Bishop Auckland and Darlington

Since her appointment earlier this year, Community Rail Officer for the Bishop Line, Felicity Machnicki has started to meet people who live, work and travel along The Bishop Line, the railway between Bishop Auckland and Darlington. Her aim is to understand what the Bishop Line community needs to help its residents get to work, training and social activities and how the railway can help.

Her work involves spending time with businesses, schools and colleges, community groups and individuals living or working near any of the Bishop Line stations; Bishop Auckland, Shildon, Newton Aycliffe, Heighington, North Road and Darlington. Felicity can help to identify funding, signpost to other organisations or to other information, and can build links between people and groups.

If you have a project that you would like to start and feel that the Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership may be able to help Felicity can be contacted by email at Felicity.Machnicki@BishopLine.org

Felicity comments “Community Rail is a term which is yet to become part of common vocabulary and it is the role of Partnerships like ours to show the public what it means and more importantly how they can become a part of it.”

She adds “Community Rail is not a thing, an activity, or a buzz word. Community Rail enables communities to feel connected and restores pride in some of the forgotten people and places close to us. Projects are happening all over the country which are bringing a sense of belonging and joy to those involved. They range from residents tending to planters on a station platform, schools or community groups working on artwork to brighten up stations like the Shildon in Motion project currently underway, or a group of rehabilitation centre residents who are taking their first steps to connect back to society. Community rail offers an opportunity to build confidence and skills which can be used to get a job, take a course or just feel comfortable travelling independently.”

The Partnership is keen to increase links between the Bishop Line and Weardale Railway and Felicity has helped to secure funding to connect the two Bishop Auckland Station platforms, which will make accessing the Weardale Railway services safer and simpler for all passengers. She has also provided wildflower seeds which are being planted along the Weardale route, so look out for them on your travels!

The Partnership is increasingly focused on engaging diverse groups, particularly those who face difficulties accessing rail or are socially marginalised. Case studies show the impact of Community Rail on people’s lives, some great examples can be found on the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) website https://communityrail.org.uk/case-studies

Felicity’s role is supported by ACoRP and Northern and she frequently meets with other Community Rail Partnerships across the country such as Tyne Valley and Esk Valley. This network means she can access useful training and events to be able to give an even better service to the Bishop Line community. She has recently attended Samaritans training to enable her to offer help and support to vulnerable station users. She has also attended a course on involving and supporting volunteers, so if you would like to become a station adopter and make an impact on one of the Bishop Line stations please contact her.

Free wildflower seeds for local groups

Did you know September is the time to sow your Wildflowers?

The Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership is offering free packs of wildflower seeds to the first 20 people to contact them via their Facebook page.

The packs have been supplied by the wonderful people at GrowWildUK and Kew Gardens and contain 2 packs of seeds, guidance on staying safe while you sow, planning where and when you will sow your seeds, looking after your wildflowers, and even some fun stickers.

If you represent a group, run a business or work in a school near one of the Bishop Line stations and would like a pack of seeds visit the Bishop Line CRP Facebook Page  and we’ll send you a pack (first come first served!)

Bishop Line Appoints New Officer to Connect With Its Community 

The Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership (CRP) has appointed Felicity Machnicki as its new Community Rail Officer and member of its steering group.   

Felicity joins The Bishop Line CRP, from Let’s Go Tees Valley; the sustainable transport marketing project for Tees Valley Combined Authority. She will be responsible for implementing the four pillars of the Department for Transport’s new Community Rail Strategy in relation to the needs of the residents and businesses served by the Bishop Line. 

In a statement, the Partnership stated that “Felicity has been tasked to take the partnership’s relationship with the local community to a new level; she will engage with a variety of groups to establish their needs in terms of local rail travel and will aim to break down any barriers to choosing rail travel for commuting, education, leisure or tourism.” 

In relation to the appointment Chairman of the Partnership, Charlie Walton said: “Felicity will be a great ambassador as our new Community Rail Officer. She brings with her Marketing and Communications experience gained from the premium leisure and automotive sectors, along with recent Local Government experience. Felicity has supported the partnership with its marketing needs for the past four years and starts her new role with a strong understanding of the Bishop Line. We look forward to working with her to build on the work she has already initiated.”   

Felicity replaces Bob Whitehouse who has undertaken the role for the past ten years and has left the legacy of a successful hourly service, passionate station adoption groups and a strong working partnership with the train operating company, Northern.  

Felicity commented “I can see the positive impact which can come about from successfully working with our communities and I look forward to meeting as many residents, businesses, students and teachers, tourist attractions and charities along the Bishop Line as possible. I shall spend time with each group to understand their views of local rail travel, and develop from that a strategy to improve the experience of using the Bishop Line over the coming years.” 

If you would like to have your say in shaping the future of the Bishop Line Felicity can be contacted by email at Felicity.Machnicki@BishopLine.org