Michael Parker-Bray

Three national awards for Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership

5th October 2015
Three of the Partnership’s projects have been recognised at a national level at the 2015 Community Rail Awards, held at Torquay’s Riviera International Centre. In front of an audience of more than 330 rail industry staff and volunteers, the Partnership’s Great Scenic Railways won first prize in the Marketing category. Read more

Great Scenic Railways website

3rd October 2015
CASE STUDY | Great Scenic Railways is the Partnership’s tourism-focused website, promoting the branch lines to more than 75,000 tourists and local day trippers each year.

Minibeast Trail on The Riviera Line

8th August 2015
CASE STUDY | As part of our EU Citizens’ Rail project, the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership created a “Minibeast Trail” on The Riviera Line (Exeter-Paignton) to encourage young families to try the train.

Beer mat promotion with CAMRA

17th July 2015
CASE STUDY | We joined forces with the Campaign for Real Ale to encourage pub goers in Exeter and South Devon to travel by train, using beer mats bearing the message ‘Get here on the Riviera Line’.

Visit Poldark country by train

20th June 2015
CASE STUDY | We've worked with Visit Cornwall, the National Trust and other regional partners to tap into popular culture with our "Visit Poldark country by train" campaign.

Half-price promotion on the Tarka Line

25th May 2015
CASE STUDY | A half-price offer agreed with Great Western Railway (GWR) and promoted by the Partnership led to a 37% increase in people visiting Barnstaple during the off-season.

Student masterclasses

18th April 2015
CASE STUDY | Through our EU Citizens’ Rail project, we have participated in a pair of international student masterclasses to generate new ideas for the rail industry.

Take your teddy on the train

25th February 2015
CASE STUDY | Our promotion with Great Western Railway (GWR) that allows children accompanied by an adult to travel free if they bring a teddy bear with them on their journey (during specified periods only).

The Riviera Line website wins a second national award

30th November 2014
A website developed by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership as part of its EU Citizens’ Rail project has won a second national award in as many months. After receiving first prize in the Innovation category at the UK Community Rail Awards in October, TheRivieraLine.com Read more

Love Looe campaign

19th November 2014
CASE STUDY | The Love Looe campaign brought together local tourism businesses to raise the profile of Looe, following negative coverage of the area in 2012/2013 due to flooding, road closures and landslides.

Looking back on 25 years of the Tarka Line

19th October 2014
Richard Burningham, Manager of the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, has written an opinion piece in the North Devon Journal to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Tarka Line. The article looks back on an era of great concern for the line’s very future in the 1980s. Read more

25 years of the Tarka Line

15th October 2014
Article for the North Devon Journal – written by Richard Burningham, Manager of the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership, October 2014 Twenty five years ago this month, in October 1989, the Tarka Line was officially launched. Coming up with the name was one of the early actions of the Exeter – Barnstaple Line Working Party, founded by British Rail and Devon County Council as part of an initiative to develop and promote the line at what was a tricky time. Read more

Friends of Dawlish Station

10th October 2014
CASE STUDY | The previously dormant Friends of Dawlish Station volunteer group was rejuvenated as part of the Partnership’s EU Citizens’ Rail project, making headlines and even meeting the Prime Minister.

Carnet tickets

11th August 2014
CASE STUDY | The Partnership runs a successful Carnet ticket scheme on the Tamar Valley Line.

Line Forums

11th April 2014
CASE STUDY | The Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership runs regular Forum meetings on seven of the branch lines.

St James Park station makeover

28th March 2014
CASE STUDY | We worked with the Avocet Line Rail Users Group and Great Western Railway (GWR) to organise a clean-up day that brightened St James Park station and created new links with the community.

Cornish Mining Heritage project

7th May 2013
CASE STUDY | Luxulyan on the Atlantic Coast Line is ideally located near to a walking route through the Luxulyan Valley which takes in the splendid Treffry Viaduct.

Improving access at Bugle

15th December 2011
CASE STUDY | Wheelchair and pram users now have much improved access to Bugle station thanks to a new path created with the help of the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership.

I-Buddy

1st December 2011
CASE STUDY | Inspired by a student at Plymouth University, the I-Buddy project helped open up volunteering on the branch lines to dozens of students with disabilities.

South West Coast Path

11th June 2011
CASE STUDY | In 2011, a three-year project with the South West Coast Path was set up to promote accessing the coast path by train from branch line stations.