CMAC Group brought the spirit of the railway to Lancashire in celebration of Community Rail Week last week (23-29 May), pledging its commitment to improving the communities and local area in which it works.
CMAC is a valued partner to national and regional train operating companies, enabling them to safely transport their passengers and crew. In support of Community Rail Week, the firm hosted the Rail Study Forum – in partnership with the CILT and Community Rail Network - where guests were able to learn about the important role Community Rail plays in engaging communities with their local railways.
Community Rail is a growing grassroots movement made up of community rail partnerships and groups across Britain. They engage local residents and businesses and help people get the most from their railways, promoting social inclusion and sustainable travel, working alongside train operators to bring about improvements, and bringing stations back to life.
At the event, guest speakers - including Network Rail director, Charlene Wallace - provided an insight into the work of the Community Rail Group before visitors boarded the train from Accrington to Blackburn, where attendees toured the station and saw first-hand examples of Community Rail in action, including artwork by a local school and a recycling art project using milk bottle lids and bottles.
During the event, the public were being encouraged to ‘give the train a try’, as Community Rail continues to engage and educate the ‘passengers of the future’, secure station development and increase confidence for everyone using railways.
Jools Townsend CEO of Community Rail Network said: “It was a pleasure to meet with the CILT Rail Study Group and provide an insight into the community rail movement, and especially during Community Rail Week. We were pleased to give a flavour of work going on across our growing, thriving network, bringing people and partners together, empowering communities, supporting local collaboration, and helping the rail industry to be responsive to local needs and opportunities.”
Neil Micklethwaite, COO of CMAC Group, added: “The Community Rail Group plays an important role in engaging communities with their local railways, and it was great to see first-hand the initiatives the team in Lancashire undertakes to encourage the exploration of rail for everyone in the community.
“Their unwavering commitment to connect with all members of the community and to ensure that rail is accessible to everyone is inspiring. CMAC is proud to have sponsored such a fantastic event.”
CMAC is the leading provider of managed ground transport solutions, working with train companies to provide planned and on-demand rail replacement vehicles and crew transport.
For more information on the work of the Community Rail Movement please visit www.communityrail.org.uk.