The Hills to Harbour Community Rail Partnership is an exciting initiative working with South Western Railway (SWR), with the support of the Community Rail Network. Its aims are to encourage greater access to the local area via rail and other sustainable transport options and to develop our local railway stations.
Hills to Harbour Community Rail Partnership – What do we do?
The Hills to Harbour Community Partnership aims to:
- Promote the train services of Guildford, Farncombe, Godalming, Milford, Witley, Haslemere, Liphook, Liss, Petersfield, Rowlands Castle, Havant, Bedhampton, Hilsea, Fratton, Cosham, Portsmouth and Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour
- Encourage partners such as local businesses, community organisations, and volunteers to become more involved with the stations and services.
- Enable the rail industry to work with local tourist attractions to attract more visitors to access the area by train.
- Provide a means to enhance the environment and facilities at each station.
https://youtu.be/ysZqoW_Dfc0?si=ZO7KuV0P89h8WNhR
We work with:
- schools, youth organisations and vulnerable adults to provide information about the railway. For example, activities like Try the Train Experiences and Train2Travel which provides interactive train safety workshops to groups.
- the local community and SWR, to provide a high standard of infrastructure and aesthetics at all stations. We work with the local community to display art and create gardening projects.
- SWR and Network Rail, to increase rail passenger numbers and improve our services and infrastructure.
- Local authorities, businesses and any stakeholder interested in our work or have ideas which we could implement
- Local bus companies to provide more integrated public transport services between rail stations and local destinations and attractions.
Our activities incorporate the Department for Transport’s Community Rail Development Strategy’s 4 pillars:
- Providing a voice for the community
- Promoting sustainable, healthy and accessible travel
- Bringing communities together and supporting diversity and inclusion
- Supporting social and economic development
The full strategy can be found here.
And we:
- enable local railways to play a larger role in local and regional economic and social regeneration: including projects to enhance tourist, educational, health, cultural and environmental regeneration and development activities.
- encourage greater use of sustainable and environmentally friendly public transport.
Download our 2022/23 Annual Review
How you can help?
- Join the Hills to Harbour stakeholder or voluntary groups.
- Help with, or sponsor, improvements to a station.
- Provide a service, business or promotion at a station.
- Provide or help to look after flowers and planters at stations.
- Assist with passenger surveys, events, art projects and promotions.
- Improve access to or from stations via bus, cycle, walking or car sharing initiatives.
- Keep stations free of litter and rubbish.
- Organise or lead guided walks or cycle rides from stations.
- Help ‘keep an eye’ on stations in the evening or at weekends.
- Report any damage or anti-social behaviour.
and much more…
Email: lucy@hampshirecommunityrail.co.uk
Telephone: 07551781711