A new initiative to help improve a railway line has seen success in its first month of operation.

The 3 Counties Connected Community Rail Partnership is a new initiative from Groundwork North Wales, Transport for Wales and community partners.

The Partnership will develop and promote the Chester to Shrewsbury to Crewe railway line as a green railway line with a high level of community involvement, attractive station facilities, excellent co-ordination with other forms of transport, and as a service that meets the needs of local people, commuters and of visitors, and in so doing provides value for money for passengers.

The railway line is a vital link between communities on the borders of England and Wales and the partnership will develop and support several green initiatives, encouraging sustainable tourism and promoting outdoor activities using public transport along the Rail Line.

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The partnership will encourage volunteering for all ages; supporting friends of groups, school and youth groups to look after, and make local stations greener and more accessible.

The Leader: Sian Jones, the Community Rail Ambassador at Transport for Wales, Melanie Lawton the Community Rail Manager at Transport for Wales, and Jessica Wragg, the Community Rail Officer at Groundwork North Wales Sian Jones, the Community Rail Ambassador at Transport for Wales, Melanie Lawton the Community Rail Manager at Transport for Wales, and Jessica Wragg, the Community Rail Officer at Groundwork North Wales

Jessica Wragg, Community Rail Officer said. “The first month of the partnership has been extremely busy and I have connected with many different organisations and groups to see the amazing work that is going on with other community rail partnerships and groups and to see first-hand the difference they are making.”

“I have also met station adopters in Chirk and Ruabon who work hard to create pride in their stations and community, they play a critical role in making their stations really welcoming and attractive places, and I hope we can encourage more volunteer groups to become station adopters along the line.”

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Hugh Evans, head of community rail at Transport for Wales, said: “Community Rail can drive real change for the better across our network, helping make rail travel more accessible, sustainable, and inclusive, which in turn creates a real economic benefit and an opportunity to support the health and mental wellbeing of people in these communities.”

There will be a new website and people can follow the progress of the partnership by following @Jess_CommRail on twitter.

Two events are planned for Community Rail Week (week beginning 23 May, 2022) with a Community Well-being Walk in Chirk, meeting at Chirk Train Station at 10.30am on Thursday, May 26.

The walk will take approximately one hour and will end up at Cafe Wylfa for a well-deserved coffee.

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In June, a Queen’s Jubilee event is also planned at Alyn Waters Country Park in Wrexham on Tuesday, May 31, where sustainable and safe rail travel will be promoted, as well as celebrating the Queen's Jubilee with a royal-themed quiz, whilst enjoying the tasty food and drink at Caffi Cyfle.

Anyone wanting to find out more about the partnership should contact Jessica Wragg at Groundwork North Wales on 01978 757524 jessica.wragg@groundworknorthwales.org.uk