notes 13th June 2009. Embargoed to 00:01 Monday 15th June 2009
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date 15 June 2009 00.001 source ACoRP type Press release
The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) welcomed the publication of ATOC’s ‘Connecting Communities’ report as a sensible first step towards reconnecting some towns and villages with the rail network.
“Although ACoRP largely deals with the existing network, we often meet with people who are frustrated at the lack of access to the railway, despite the size of their community” said Neil Buxton, ACoRP’s General Manager. “‘We appreciate that building or re-opening a railway can be expensive but this report shows that it is possible to present a good business case in a number of locations”. “A rail connection can help with regeneration, access to work and education and maintain social cohesion” he added.
‘Connecting Communities’ sits well with ACoRP’s 2008 report on the Value of Community Rail Partnerships, which demonstrated that rural and local lines were generally showing a 3% increase in passengers over and above that being achieved by the network as a whole. It also demonstrated that a properly functioning community rail partnership could show a benefit to cost ration of 4.6:1.
“There’s an increasing groundswell of opinion suggesting that, with proper support, existing or re-opened local railways can now deliver much better performance and offer much more to their local community than in the past” commented Mr Buxton.
ENDS
More information please contact Neil Buxton ACoRP General Manager on 07779 795671
Notes 1. The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) represents the interests of over 60 Community Rail Partnerships and Station Adoption Groups across the UK.
2. Community Rail Partnerships are an affiliation of interested parties – usually including the train operator and local authority, local business and individuals – whose aim is to work together in promoting and developing a local or rural line for the good of the community as a whole.
3. The ‘Value of Community Rail Partnerships’ report can be found on the ACoRP website www.acorp.uk.com
4. Connecting Communities’ is available from the Association of Train Operating Companies www.atoc.org
