Arriva Trains Wales

The Station Adoption scheme has captured the imagination of many adopters and community groups. Discover more about their successes and recognition at UK awards

STATION ADOPTION PRide CAMPAIGN STRIKES GOLD

A campaign to encourage communities to take pride in their local railway station has won a top public relations industry award.

CIPR Award 2006 Arriva Trains Wales’ (ATW) ‘Adopt a Station’ campaign has won a gold award at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) annual PRide Awards, making it Wales’ most successful community campaign in 2006.

The award recognises the train company’s work to engage with communities across its network and keep its stations in the best possible condition.

Over 140 of ATW’s 190 unstaffed stations have been adopted by community volunteers. Adopted stations span from Rhosneigr, on the Isle of Anglesey, the northern tip of the ATW network, to Llantwit Major in South Wales and from Pembroke Dock in West Wales to as far east as Leominster.

Claire Loveday, ATW’s Press & PR Officer, said: “This award is an added bonus to the benefits that the Adopt a Station scheme is bringing to our network.

“With the backing of local people we’re seeing real improvements at unstaffed stations including reduced litter and vandalism and, importantly, increased reporting of issues to British Transport Police. Many adopters have improved the appearance of station platforms with art and gardening projects and their support is an asset to the railway.”

In winning the award, ATW’s in-house campaign fought off competition from companies and specialist PR agencies from across Wales. The judges commended the way that the campaign had gained the support of local people and positive media coverage across the network.

Speaking at the CIPR PRide Awards ceremony, Wynford Emanuel, Chair of CIPR Cymru/Wales, said: "The PRide Awards are about raising professional standards by identifying, recognising and rewarding the first-rate work going on in the PR industry outside of London and the contribution this makes to business and society. The judging process is rigorous and to win is a tremendous achievement."

Station adopters carry out regular spot checks relating to the tidiness and cleanliness of the station, in addition to those already undertaken by ATW. Any issues that may need addressing are then passed on to the local station manager. In return, adopters are offered travel vouchers for use on the ATW network.

The scheme has recently been boosted by the appointment of 21 Police Community Support Officers to patrol the ATW network, address incidents of concern and support communities along rail lines. The new British Transport Police officers are working with station adopters as part of their community policing remit.

DOLWYDDELAN STATION WINS UK COMMUNITY AWARD

A North Wales railway station which has seen itself transformed from a tired halt to a local picnic spot has won a UK award for the local people that made it possible.

Dolwyddelan ACORP award 2006 Dolwyddelan Station has been named the UK’s Most Enhanced Community Station by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP). The award recognises the work of two local groups to improve the station environment for local rail users.

The station has been ‘adopted’ by Dolwyddelan Yn Ei Blodau and young people from Cylch Yr Ifanc, under the Arriva Trains Wales ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme. Supported by community rail officer Larry Davies, volunteers have transformed the station garden with a range of plants and flowers and created a picnic spot for local people and visitors in the station’s former goods yard.

In winning the award the groups fought off competition from Burscough Bridge and Parbold stations in West Lancashire. The judges commended the way that local people, young and old, had pulled together to create a welcoming gateway to the station and the beautiful Conwy Valley Line.

Retired couple David and Olwen Williams from Dolwyddelan collected the award on behalf of the station adoption teams, alongside Arriva station manager Gerald Jones. Speaking at the awards David said: “It’s absolutely wonderful to receive a UK award for the work that local people have put in to improve Dolwyddelan Station.

“For us there’s no better prize than seeing the station gardens appreciated and the picnic area in use. We often return to the station to find the picnic benches moved around so that families and large groups can sit together and share a meal. It always brings a smile to our faces to think that the station garden has been enjoyed in this way.”

On receiving the award the station adoption groups have been congratulated by Arriva Trains Wales and have also received special recognition from Andrew Davies, the Welsh Assembly Government Minister responsible for transport in Wales.

Andrew Davies, Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, said: "This is marvellous news for the station adopters and for all the local people and visitors who use Dolwyddelan Station. Encouraging people to use public transport regularly is an important part of our transport policy and projects like this can only help to promote the station and the beautiful Conwy Valley Line.

“Arriva's success under its Adopt a Station scheme, here and at other stations across Wales and the borders, is a tribute to their commitment to involving communities in their local railway.”

Gerald Jones, Dolwyddelan’s station manager for Arriva Trains Wales, said: “We are really delighted that the efforts of the groups at Dolwyddelan Station have been recognised like this.

“Our Adopt a Station scheme asks local people to act as an extra pair of eyes and ears at our stations and let us know if there are any issues that need addressing. But the groups at Dolwyddelan have really gone that extra mile to help improve their station for local people and visitors and we are grateful to them for their hard work and commitment.”

In August this year, the Conwy Valley celebrated the 100th adoption of an Arriva Trains Wales station at Betws-y-Coed. Over two-thirds of the company’s 190 unstaffed stations have been adopted by local volunteers, eight of which are on the Conwy Valley Line.

Station adopters carry out regular spot checks relating to the tidiness and cleanliness of the station, in addition to those already undertaken by Arriva Trains Wales. Any issues that may need addressing are then passed on to the local station manager. In return, adopters are offered travel vouchers for use on the Arriva Trains Wales network.

Wales won two other ACoRP awards at the event held in Darlington on Friday evening (22 September 2006). Dolau Station on the Heart of Wales Line, in Mid Wales, was judged the UK’s Best Station Garden and the Heart of Wales Line Forum’s marketing strategy for the railway line by the was named the most innovative of the 60 UK rail partnerships and rail promotion groups.

DOLAU STATION WINS UK 'BEST STATION GARDEN' AWARD

A Mid Wales railway station known locally as a gardeners’ paradise has received a UK award. Dolau Station has been judged to have the UK’s Best Station Garden by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP).

Kids go free Lovingly cared for by the Dolau Station Action Group for the last 23 years, the station’s garden boasts an array of flowers including roses, geraniums, begonias, irises and gladioli. Earlier this month (September 2006) the station was officially ‘adopted’ by the group under the Arriva Trains Wales ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme.

Farmer, Mike Reynolds, from Dolau collected the award on behalf of the station adopters on Friday (22 September 2006) alongside Arriva Station Manager Shelley Hall. Speaking at the awards Mike said: “It’s absolutely wonderful to receive a UK award for the work that local people have put in to improve Dolau Station.

“Everyone involved in the group – which includes two other farmers, a solicitor, a journalist, two office clerks and a highway supervisor - really enjoys caring for the station’s gardens. Even after 23 years, the group’s enthusiasm is as strong as ever.”

Dolau station is no stranger to winning awards and the group’s devotion to their station has been recognised by over 30 awards. In June 2002, Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip made a special visit to Dolau during their Golden Jubilee Tour of the UK. A commemorative plaque was unveiled on the platform and the Queen was provided with a tour of the station.

The affection for the station is shown by the comments made in the station’s visitors’ book on display in the waiting shelter. These comments include: “a delightful surprise” (D Bowen, Cheltenham), “a great pleasure being here” (J Kruel, Bad Rappenau, Germany) and “wonderful” (R Murray, Australia).

The marketing strategy to promote the Heart of Wales railway line, and stations including Dolau, to local people and visitors from across the UK received the ACoRP Marketing Community Rail Award for the Heart of Wales Line Forum.

On winning the awards the Heart of Wales Line teams have been congratulated by Arriva Trains Wales and have also received special recognition from Andrew Davies, the Welsh Assembly Government Minister responsible for transport in Wales.

Andrew Davies, Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, said: "These awards are marvellous news for the Dolau station adopters and everyone working to promote the Heart of Wales Line. Encouraging people to use public transport regularly is an important part of our transport policy and projects like this can only help to promote both Dolau Station and the beautiful Heart of Wales Line – a line that I myself enjoy travelling very much.

“Arriva's success under its Adopt a Station scheme, here and at other stations across Wales and the borders, is a tribute to their commitment to involving communities in their local railway.”

Geraint Morgan, community affairs manager for Arriva Trains Wales, said: “We are really delighted that the efforts of community rail officers and station adopters to promote the beauty of the Heart of Wales Line have been recognised like this.

“The community spirit and determination shown by local people to ensure that the line and its stations provide a welcoming gateway for rail passengers is something that we are extremely proud of.”

TREHAFOD STATION MOSAIC RECOGNISED AT UK RAILWAY AWARDS

A station mosaic created by young artists from Trehafod and Porth has won a certificate of excellence at a major UK railway awards ceremony.

Trehafod Award The artistic talent of youngsters from Porth County Community School, Hafod Primary School and Trehafod Youth Club was recognised at the Association of Community Rail Partnership Awards with the project being awarded second place overall in the ‘Community Art Schemes’ category.

Local youngsters completed the mosaic, which is on display at Trehafod Railway Station, in April (2006). The 24ft long mosaic depicts the journey of coal by train from the Rhondda Valleys to Cardiff and is part of a ‘Pit to Port’ project to illustrate local culture and history and how the hard working people of the Rhondda helped to shape the prosperous Cardiff docks area.

The artwork positions a traditional mining scene, with coal carried by steam engine, alongside a modern day Cardiff Bay and diesel trains that link valley communities with the Capital.

Rhian Forsey, of Porth County Community School, said: “We are thrilled with this award and it’s wonderful to see the pupil’s hard work being recognised in this way. Our schools have a long history of community projects and in particular mural work on railway stations. We constantly strive to maximise the potential of our students and this project has taught them new skills and has certainly lifted their self esteem.”

She continued: “By placing the mosaic at the station the work of our students has been seen by thousands of motorists and rail passengers entering and leaving the Rhondda Valley. We hope it will prompt them to think about their heritage and culture.”

Wayne Cresswell, station manager for Arriva Trains Wales, said: “The mosaic has made a huge difference to the appearance of the station and it’s great to see the project being rewarded in this way. The mosaic fought off strong competition from similar art projects from across the UK and the award is a credit to the young artist’s hard work and enthusiasm.”

The project was supervised by community artists Ceri Walters and Chris Partridge of the Mobile Arts Project who worked with pupils at after school clubs. The project was supported by Communities First and the Heritage Lottery Fund.