Caldervale stations turned into a string of pearls

Community-based station partnerships have created a ‘necklace effect’ of activities at virtually every station on the Caldervale Line

Dr. Paul Salveson played a leading role in the formation in the late 1990s of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP). In 2005, he joined Northern Rail as head of government and community strategies and in 2008 he was awarded an MBE for his services to the rail industry. This year he joined Grand Central as external relations manager

Dr. Paul Salveson played a leading role in the formation in the late 1990s of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP). In 2005, he joined Northern Rail as head of government and community strategies and in 2008 he was awarded an MBE for his services to the rail industry. This year he joined Grand Central as external relations manager

The station gardens at Poulton-le-Fylde station in Lancashire. This area was once derelict, but station friends have restored it to a high standard

The station gardens at Poulton-le-Fylde station in Lancashire. This area was once derelict, but station friends have restored it to a high standard

It’s great to see people’s creativity in action at dozens of stations around Britain. Gardens, works of art, new community facilities, poetry and herb beds are just some of the things which are going on, transforming many unstaffed stations into vibrant community facilities.

Along the Caldervale Line, in the heart of the Pennines, community-based station partnerships have created a ‘necklace effect’ of activities at virtually every station, like a string of pearls. The route lies within the South Pennines Rail Partnership, which promotes the local rail network in the South Pennines. Most of the station projects have been grass-roots initiatives, with development at one station sparking ideas amongst people at neighbouring stations. It started at Todmorden, famous for its ‘Incredible Edible Todmorden’ project where hundreds of local people have got the ‘grow your own food’ bug. The station has been, right from the start, at the heart of project. Local community activists decided they wanted to do something to improve the drab appearance of their station, so got stuck in with planters and art work. Then someone came up with the idea of a community library in the waiting room. Next, the station partnership provided a number of herb beds on the station platforms, where passengers can pick their favourite herbs and take them home to sprinkle on their salad! Now there’s an entire vegetable patch at the corner of the station car park. Each year the station partnership throws a party, with local musicians, community stalls and local food and drink being available. Prince Charles recently popped in to see what had been achieved, on his very own train!

Todmorden was the inspiration for a group of community activists at nearby Mytholmroyd. Local schools and churches have become involved and the station now has its own regular newsletter, art work and a stunning display of daffodils each Spring; it has created its own ‘railway community’! Hot on ‘Royd’s heels was Hebden Bridge. A local station partnership was established in 2007 and has worked with Northern Rail to provide historical displays and art work in the waiting rooms. They copied both the community library and the ‘grow your own’ ideas from Todmorden. Friends of Hebden Bridge Station volunteers have planted some 50 fruit bushes along the edge of the station car park which include blueberry and gooseberry, and black, white and red currants, and will be available for station users and visitors to ‘pick your own’ when ready for harvesting. Funding for the project came through Calderdale's Upper Valley ‘Safer Greener Cleaner Team’, who also supplied the compost.

Over on the Lancashire side of the Pennines, on the same route, Friends of Littleborough station were determined not to be outshone by their Yorkshire friends. Working with the local historical society and civic trust they have exciting plans to transform several disused rooms into a community history archive and resource centre. The station already has planters provided by the friends, as well as displays of local poetry. Last Spring it held an art show in the station waiting room, displaying work by Littleborough Community Primary School Art Group. The Littleborough group has spawned an associated development at the next station down the line towards Rochdale, at Smithy Bridge.

Back in Yorkshire, the latest station to get the partnership treatment is Sowerby Bridge. It has gone through bad times since the superb Jacobean-style station building was demolished after a fire and the station became unstaffed. Last year the surviving buildings, for long out of use, were re-opened as ‘The Jubilee Refreshment Rooms’ - a railway-themed real ale bar. Run by brothers Chris and Andrew Wright, they have acted as catalysts for a ‘Friends of Sowerby Bridge Station’.

Each year, all of the groups come together for a Christmas Carols service, involving local schools. In 2010, the groups took advantage of the new Grand Central service from Bradford and Halifax to Wakefield and London to organise a train trip with children and adults singing at Halifax, Mytholmroyd and Wakefield.

All of this has happened with very little cash. There isn’t a paid community rail officer dedicated to the Caldervale Line and all the effort is voluntary. The activists are skilled in extracting sponsorship in the way of plants, top soil, notice boards and the like from local businesses. Key to their success is having a supportive train operator. In the case of Northern’s Caldervale Line the station manager  - Matt Gibson – lives in Todmorden and enjoys being involved in community activities. He has ensured that the various groups are aware of the safety issues and are properly briefed. At first, the relationship was occasionally stormy, with some groups getting carried away with their enthusiasm. But common sense always prevailed and these days Northern staff themselves often come up with ideas for what the groups could do. Network Rail has also become involved, when groups want to develop adjoining land outside Northern’s lease. By engaging with Network Rail’s community rail team, positive outcomes have been achieved, such as the wildlife garden at Mytholmroyd, on what was once derelict land.

Does all of this make any difference to the railway’s bottom line? Actually it does. Stations become friendly and welcoming places rather than cold, isolated spots where waiting for a train feels perilous.  Station partnership groups help raise a positive profile for the station through local newsletters and features in the local press. Across the country, train operators say that community involvement contributes to passenger growth – and it deters vandalism. For communities, they benefit from safer, more attractive facilities. Many station partnerships have been able to skilfully exploit the goodwill they have generated to make the case for more substantial investment, such as improved disabled access and integrated bus links. Some, such as Dronfield, have created their own Station Travel Plans.

Could they do more? Undoubtedly.

Several station partnerships have taken over leases on station buildings and are running community businesses, such as Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line which runs station shops at Settle and Appleby. Probably most has been achieved in Scotland, thanks to ScotRail support and its highly experienced manager John Yellowlees, who has been running a crusade to get more and more stations adopted by the community. The Stranraer-Ayr Line Supporters’ Association (Saylsa) runs a community shop at Girvan station which now opens six days a week. There is a superb second-hand bookshop on Pitlochry station run by the community; all money raised goes to charity and so far they have generated £50,000. There is plenty more scope for running community enterprises at stations.  Community enthusiasm, supported and channelled by a friendly train operator, produces amazing results.