Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership E-NEWSLETTER January 2012

Transcription

1 Three Rivers E-NEWSLETTER January 2012 C o m m u n i t y R a i l Pa r t n e r s h i p Welcome to the latest Three Rivers e-newsletter, which is full of reports about our activities; what is happening at the stations along the figure of 6 route and information about some forthcoming interesting projects. Access for all at Romsey station - thanks to new ramp Work on a much-needed access ramp to Platform 1 was finished in mid-march The ramp, which climbs a very gentle slope up from Canal Walk allows everyone, including those with mobility issues, bicycles, pushchairs and luggage to make full use of all the trains serving Romsey. Previously, the only means of reaching the far platform was via the station subway, which restricted travel options considerably. The project was funded through a Government Awards for All grant and some local development monies and involved the Department for Transport, Network Rail, First Great Western, Hampshire County Council, Test Valley Borough Council and the Three Rivers. There are plans for the area of land alongside the platform to be transformed into a managed woodland area, which would be maintained by the Romsey Station Adoption Volunteers. Above: Caroline Noakes (fifth from left), local MP, attended the official opening of the access ramp with representatives of all stakeholders involved in the project. Right: Romsey station s new access ramp. Matrix of fares for website Following many requests for details of the fares on the Three Rivers route, we have compiled a chart showing many of the local fares between stations on the Three Rivers route. This is available on our website and provides an easy reference tool for planning rail journeys.

2 Page 2 St. Denys station bridge undergoes refurbishment The main structure of St. Denys station footbridge dates from 1883, which makes it 129 years old. The bridge, which links all platforms is also part of a public right of way across the railway heavily used by passengers and the general public. In recent years it has started to look somewhat faded and rusty, and in need of a repaint. This issue had been raised by many passengers during our surveys at the station. The main station buildings have been repainted recently thanks to South West Trains, but the footbridge, which is Network Rail s responsibility, was in need of considerable care and attention. The refurbishment of the footbridge began in December The old bridge had to be screened off with a huge white wrapping - to protect the public and trains during the overhaul, and a very impressive temporary footbridge was constructed at the south end of the station. Above: The rust and faded, peeling paint on the footbridge at St. Denys back in December Above top, the repainted bridge unveiled in November 2011 looks magnificent and has really brightened up St. Denys station. Platform 4 access improved The Three Rivers suggested to South West Trains that the wooden shelter at the bottom of the St Denys station footbridge be removed to enable level access from Adelaide Road straight onto Platform 4. South West Trains embraced this idea, and within a few weeks contractors for Network Rail duly opened the area up for passengers. Left to right: Both sides of the old wooden shelter at the foot of the footbridge, and the new barrier and bollard where the shelter used to be - enabling passengers easy access to Platform 4.

3 Page 3 Bike Doctor Event at St. Denys Since our last Newsletter, Three Rivers held a Bike Doctor event at St. Denys station to raise the profile of cycling both to the station, and in the local area in general. This free facility commenced at around 1000 at the Platform 4 entrance behind the South Western Arms pub. Ray Ball - a Southampton City Council Neighbourhood Warden - was The Bike Doctor. A keen cyclist himself, Ray volunteers his time to give bike maintenance and safety advice at various meetings and special events throughout the city. During the morning Ray provided some very useful hints and tips about how to look after your bike to everyone who attended, while providing a free service and minor maintenance. We hope to repeat this event at different stations in the future. New bike racks installed Above: The younger members of a family from Highfield learning bike maintenance techniques from The Bike Doctor. New cycle racks have been installed on Platforms 1 and 4 of St. Denys station. Not only are there now more bike spaces than previously, but by relocating them under the cover of the canopies, the racks are now within the view of the CCTV cameras. This will ensure improved security for anyone leaving their bike at the station. Left to right: Two contractors begin installation of the cycle racks on Platform 4; the freshly installed racks on Platform 1, and the racks in use under the canopy of Platform 1.

4 Page 4 Clearance of Romsey Station lower car park Three Rivers volunteers cleared the neglected lower car park at Romsey station over several days last year. The wooded site had become very overgrown with brambles, bushes and fallen timber, and the car parking spaces were badly obstructed by fallen branches, leaves, general rubbish and mounds of soil. Great progress was made by 16 volunteers, all of whom variously swept, litter-picked, shovelled, cleared, pruned and lopped for several hours. Several skips were filled with debris and removed. Eventually, the access steps, roadway and parking spaces were all cleared and useable again. During well-earned breaks, the team purchased refreshments from the Romsey Station Café. Several lucky volunteers also sampled volunteer Susan Hartley s delicious homemade apple juice flavoured with cloves, which she makes using fallen apples from a tree at the station. The lower car park is owned by Network Rail and a special Community Rail Licence was organised by Mike Franklin to allow the Partnership to access the land. This is the second such licence granted to the Three Rivers following on from a pilot at Chandler s Ford station. Above, left to right: Catch 22 Supervisor Kim, Simon Scott, Nigel Barnes-Evans (The Image Team), Jenny Thomas (University of Southampton student), Mark Miller ( Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership officer), Mike Franklin (Network Rail), Jenny Tunstall (from Chandler s Ford), Yvonne Ward, Mark Cooper, Susan Hartley and Bob Ormiston. Above, left to right: In the thick of it; student Jenny clearing foliage, Jenny from Chandler s Ford weeding, Mark litter-picking and Simon digging.

5 Page 5 Additional parking space created at Romsey The former Stationmaster s garden area alongside Station Road in Romsey has been converted into additional parking space. The plot of spare land and embankment had become rather overgrown and neglected, and a major investment by First Great Western, Test Valley Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, Network Rail and local development monies has transformed it into a very useful facility for rail passengers. By creating this extra lower level Pay & Display car park, the area directly outside Romsey station entrance is now free of parked cars. This allows more room for minibuses - such as our Romsey FREE BUS summer shuttle - and rail replacement buses to turn around. It also provides easier access for those picking up and dropping off rail passengers only. There are some very handsome new hardwood steps up from the car park to the station (which our volunteers are posing on in the photo, right), but passengers can still access the station via the pavement along Station Approach. Poetry on the station Romsey volunteer Shirley Rogers and her granddaughter regularly choose poems to be displayed each month in the waiting room on Platform 2. Wordworth poems and Shakespearean sonnets are just two examples of the poetry chosen to inspire the travelling public as they wait for their trains. Please take the time to savour these literary delights when you next visit Romsey station. All poems displayed also appear on our website Second mural now on display The second of the two murals designed for Romsey station has now been installed. It is mounted on the wall near the canopy on Platform 1.This completes the display of colourful artwork created by local schoolchildren, and really brightens up the station. Above, left to right: Nick Farthing (Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership Chairman), volunteer Julian Jones, Viv Messenger (Test Valley Borough Council Planner), Mark Cooper (volunteer and Hampshire County Council member for Romsey), volunteers Carolyn Nixson and Bob Ormiston, and Mark Miller (Three Rivers officer). Above: A detail from the mural on Platform 1.

6 Page 6 Major improvements at Southampton Airport (Parkway) The forecourt area outside the front of Southampton Airport (Parkway) station has been completely re-designed and re-landscaped. A revised entrance and exit for road traffic has been constructed to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians, and to ease traffic flow. The layout also allows access to and from a new multi-storey car park which has 575 spaces. Hampshire County Council contributed 110,000 to the construction of the car park, which was mainly funded by South West Trains and has help points and real time train departure screens on each level. Transport integration is also improved; local buses now call at a new stop right outside the station entrance, rather than out on the main road, and there is a brand new cycle rack in the old car park area. Major changes are also being made to the booking office and waiting area as part of the continuing programme of improvements by South West Trains and Network Rail at this busy station. The waiting area is being refreshed, and new access enables passengers to walk straight through to the new footbridge entirely undercover. The toilet facilities here are also undergoing refurbishment, and new canopies now provide shelter along most of each platform. Above right: The station s five-storey car park for rail users is an imposing steel structure with an airey feel during the day created by the inclusion of hundreds of glass wall blocks to let the light in. Next to the car park there are 20 minute parking bays for passenger drop offs and pick ups. Below right: There is plenty of space for bikes in the new cycle racks at the front of the station and on Platform 2. These are under cover and are monitored by CCTV.

7 Page Marwell Shuttle Bus operated by Velvet A new and improved bus service between Eastleigh station and Marwell Wildlife operated between May and September 2011, with a bus running on Saturdays in addition to Sundays. The service was provided by local bus operator Velvet, using their distinctive purple buses, with funding provided by Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership, Marwell Wildlife, the Association of s and Hampshire County Council. It was decided to charge fares for the 2011 season, but these were set at very competitive levels and represent good value for passengers. Anyone using the bus link received a 10% discount on the admission prices to Marwell, and overall individual journey numbers increased by 28% over the previous year. Eastleigh footbridge refurbishment As at St. Denys station (see Page 2) the footbridge which links the platforms at Eastleigh station has undergone a major Network Rail refurbishment. The work was started before Christmas 2010, and means the faded green panelling and the peeling white paint on the window frames are no more. The new dark blue and cream livery is now beginning to appear and looks fantastic. Additional work is also being undertaken on the platform canopies. Bridge replacements between Redbridge and Romsey Four old bridges over the railway between Romsey and Redbridge are to be rebuilt this year. The work is needed to allow freight trains carrying larger containers to use this alternative route when they are unable to use the main line to the Midlands via Winchester. At present, the bridges have a very low clearance, and this prohibits certain container trains from using the line. During the work, the Three Rivers service will be affected. Please check the South West Trains website for more details nearer the time. Left: The bridge at Church Road in Nursling is one of the four due to be rebuilt.

8 Page 8 Romsey FREE BUS route extended for 2011 season Test Valley Borough Council has produced an informative new leaflet (right) about the long-closed Andover to Romsey railway line, known locally as the Sprat and Winkle. The leaflet was launched early in 2011 at The Mayfly pub at Testcombe as part of a project to encourage the public to use the course of the old railway route for recreational purposes. The route is ideal for use by ramblers, cyclists, joggers or anyone who simply enjoys a walk out in the countryside. To assist with giving access to this trail, the Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership s Romsey FREE BUS was extended last summer to serve Kings Somborne and Stockbridge - a very attractive and vibrant country town, with many independent shops and places to eat. On Sundays and Bank Holidays from 1 May until 25 September, the FREE BUS took passengers from Romsey Abbey to Stockbridge High Street via Romsey station, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Choice Plants at Timsbury, Kimbridge Restaurant and Farm Shop, Mottisfont & Dunbridge station, Mottisfont Abbey, Horsebridge (for Test Way), Houghton Lodge and Gardens, and The Crown at King s Somborne. The service was again operated by volunteer drivers from Test Valley Community Transport Services using a fully accessible minibus. You could join and use the bus to travel as much as you wish, getting on and off at calling points on the route. The 12% increase in passenger journeys certainly reflected passenger enjoyment of this year s increased choice of destinations. The Romsey to Mottisfont FREE BUS is funded by the Association of s, Hillier Gardens, Hampshire County Council, Kimbridge Restaurant and Farm Shop, Stockbridge Parish Council, Test Valley Borough Council and the Three Rivers. Swaythling Nature Walks continue to surprise and delight Our nature walks conducted by local wildlife expert Bob Painton continued last year with three sets of walks over weekends in April, August and November. These were well attended with approximately 25 people taking part each day. Visitors included a couple who had come from Romsey on the train, and visitors from Hedge End, proving that interest in the Walks is spreading. Thanks go to Radian Housing for their support in producing the Walk posters. The Spring Walks dates for 2012 are 14th and 15th April. The groups led by volunteer Bob Painton walk from Swaythling station, along Wessex Lane to historic St. Marys Church at South Stoneham, then down the path of the Monks Brook river to The Grange, over the road to Monks Brook Greenway and follow the river and walkways up to the proposed Village Green near Junction 5 of the M27. Please check the website for further information and maps. Right: The rare Purple Toothwort is just one of the plants that can be seen growing in woodland on the Walks.

9 Page 9 Solar-powered help points at Dean and Mottisfont & Dunbridge New solar-powered Help Points (right) have been installed by First Great Western at two of their stations on the Three Rivers route - one is located at Dean and the other two are at Mottisfont & Dunbridge. The help points will offer a much improved facility for these two rural and unstaffed locations. Julie is looking after Dean We are pleased to announce there is now a Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership volunteer taking care of Dean station - Julie Nielson. We welcome her involvement on behalf of all the rail users there. Julie is a retired Southampton City Council employee who came up to our stand at the East Tytherley fete. She has offered to keep an eye on the station which she used regularly prior to retirement. Julie has already helped with cleaning and tidying the two cycle lockers on the station. One locker had been unavailable for some time as the key had been lost, but now a locksmith has attended to the problem, and both lockers are back in use again. In addition to this, Julie tends to the flower tubs on the platform and together with her partner John, regularly cuts back overhanging vegetation. 235 raised by Chandler s Ford Waitrose Thanks to Waitrose customers in Chandler s Ford, the Three Rivers now has an extra 235 to spend on its work. Mark Miller had applied to Waitrose for the Partnership to be one of three good causes chosen each month by the store to share 1000 donated for community projects or local charities. Customers using the store chose which of the three they wished to support that month by allocating a green plastic disc, taken when paying at the check-out, to the appropriate hopper near the store s exit. At the end of the month, 1000 was shared between the three causes according to the ratio of green discs in each of the hoppers. A further 260 was raised in the same way at Romsey Waitrose last year, and the proceeds were used to buy a new desk, chairs and heater for the Romsey Station Volunteers Room on Platform 1. Thank you Waitrose. Time for tea Following on from the success of the Romsey Station Café, Three Rivers volunteers have started a weekday morning tea stall at Chandler s Ford station. The idea was first proposed during a passenger survey some time ago, and eventually taken up by volunteers themselves. All proceeds are put into the Partnership s funds and the reaction of passengers has been extremely encouraging.

10 Page 10 Minister s visit to Swaythling On 20th January Swaythling station received a visit from the Minister of State for Transport, Teresa Villiers MP. She was in the area as part of a visit to Southampton Airport, and had been invited to see the tasks which Three Rivers was undertaking at Swaythling. She saw the fruits of the volunteers labours, which included wildlife and wildflower enhancements and she was shown the rooms in the main station building which have the potential for art displays and community use. The visit lasted longer than expected, as the minister was very interested to see the various improvements being made, and to meet the large number of people attending. She found the enthusiasm of volunteers and all those involved in the Three Rivers to be extremely encouraging, and it was nice for her to be able to see first-hand the results that have been achieved so far. Just before her departure by train back to Southampton Airport Parkway,she was provided with a selection of Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership information leaflets and publications. Shortly after her visit, Ms. Villiers announced increased funding for the national Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACORP), so we think her visit to us made a great impression! Swaythling is blooming marvellous The team of Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership volunteers at Swaythling station are now well established with their own shed, complete with water butts (below left), located inside a secure compound behind the main station building. The volunteers have worked on improving the garden areas around the station and a new raised flower bed has been created at the front, using reclaimed wooden railway sleepers. Flowers were planted in the bed by the volunteers, with help from a group of pupils from Cantell School s outreach and inclusion department (right, with Teresa Villiers). The plants, including tulip bulbs and polyanthus, were generously donated by the Parks Department of Southampton City Council and local residents. Comments from rail users and public alike have been extremely favourable. In addition, a new Wildflower and Wildlife Garden has been created under the passenger footbridge ramp on Platform 2, complete with poppies, red campion, everlasting pea, teasle, hedgehog box and bird boxes.

11 Page 11 Swaythling Station Awards 2011 Members of the local Three Rivers Station Adoption Group were joined by the regular working party of schoolchildren from Cantell School on Tuesday 8th November 2011 at Swaythling station. Steady drizzle did not dampen the spirits of those present to receive various awards for enhancing the station area and grounds. In a short speech, local Councillor Edward Osmond praised the work of all concerned in making the station environment so attractive, saying, Your efforts are good for the community, and you should all be very proud. In total, two different awards have been won this year by the Swaythling volunteers: A glass trophy and Certificate of Excellence from the Association of s - Annual Community Rail Awards for winning Best Station Adoption Group. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust's Wildlife Friendly Garden Award which been won by the volunteers led by Bob Painton for the efforts they had made to make the station area more beneficial for wildlife. Badja Evans (right, fourth from right), who organises the working parties at Cantell School, brought along pupils Suliman Khan, James Ross and John Landers. A group from the school visit the station once a fortnight to help maintain the site with the volunteers. Badja told us, The children enjoy working with adults, and they enjoy the physical tasks that the gardening and litter picking involves. Most of them are local, and some have even brought their relatives to see what they have achieved here. It makes a big difference to their general confidence, and changes their attitude to learning. They love getting their hands dirty, and really look forward to their visits. When it is not possible to come down to the station, they often decide to litter-pick around the school grounds, and they get their friends involved too. In addition to the three children taking part on 8th November, several others have worked on the station garden in the past year, including: Matthew Leach, Chloe Thompson, Jarrod Edkins, Matthew Manning and Robbie Whittingham. Above: Councillors, teachers, pupils and volunteers gather for an informal award ceremony on the steps of Swaythling station. As well as receiving awards, there was work for everyone to do, including creating a shallow rainwater pond for wildlife to use for drinking and bathing, fitting two new signs to the fencing marking the wildlife garden, litterpicking and planting more shrubs in the front border that had been kindly donated by Southampton City Council s Simon Bell, who could not be present, but who wished the volunteers well.

12 Page 12 I Spy, mince pie! On Friday 9 December 2011 the Partnership held its third annual mince pie and mulled wine evening at Romsey station to coincide with Christmas late night shopping in the town. Over 60 passengers availed themselves of the vittals on offer by candlelight in the Waiting Room on Platform 2, and with visits from the Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Romsey and local MP Caroline Noakes, a great spirit of Christmas present was created. A Womens Institute charity bookstall enjoyed a roaring trade and new Three Rivers Christmas cards (see below) sold out quickly! And the winners are... As mentioned previously on Page 11, the Swaythling volunteers won Best Station Adoption Group and were presented with a glass trophy and Certificate of Excellence from the Association of Community Rail Partnerships. Two further awards involving the Three Rivers were won at the Association of s Annual Awards this year: First Great Western was voted winner of Best overall contribution to the development of Community Rail in Third place for Community Rail Image of the Year went to Romsey resident Stephen Cooper for his photograph of Romsey station in the snow. This has now been made into Christmas cards which can be bought for next year from the Partnership via Mark Miller or the website. Well done to both winners.

13 Page 13 University support community links In Spring 2011, the Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership staffed a stand at the University of Southampton s Wider Opportunities Fair, which highlights the role of volunteering in the local community. As a result, a number of students came forward to help the Partnership throughout the year. The University, which has strong community links, also kindly sponsored the production of the Partnership s Inn Line Guide along with local company Fruitina. The Guide, which was launched last Summer at the Junction Inn, St. Denys, provides information about pubs and restaurants along the route of the Three Rivers rail service. It has proved to be very popular and can be downloaded or ordered through our website. The Partnership expands This year, following a request and additional funding from Southampton City Council, the Three Rivers expanded slightly to encompass Bitterne, Woolston and Sholing stations on the Southampton to Fareham route. This means that the Partnership will include all the stations which are located within the city of Southampton, and detailed surveys and volunteer work at these new stations will commence in Spring Annual Stakeholders meeting Contact us... Above: University of Southampton Transport Manager Adam Tewkesbury and Blue Star Operations Manager Steve Cuff peruse the Inn Line Guide. In November 2011, the Partnership held its annual Stakeholders meeting at which anyone associated with or interested in our work could attend and discuss progress. Nearly forty people including volunteers, train operators, business community groups and supporters attended at Test Valley Borough Council s offices in Romsey and contributed to ideas about how to develop the work of the Three Rivers. We hope over the coming year to put as many of the ideas as possible into action! The Three Rivers exists to promote the use of the rail service in your area. Involvement from local businesses and individuals is most welcome to help us in our aims. If you have any ideas or comments on the items covered in this e-newsletter, or on how we can fulfil our role, or if you wish to volunteer some of your time to help with other projects, please contact Mark Miller: markmiller10@tiscali.co.uk or Nick Farthing: nick.farthing@dial.pipex.com