SWR welcomes Kelly Marshall, Purbeck's first Community Rail Partnership Officer

Thursday 07th February 2019
  • Dedicated officer appointed for the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership (PCRP) 
  • Kelly Marshall will work with local communities to encourage involvement in the railway
  • 'Try the Train' day will be one of the first initiatives for new partnership officer
South Western Railway has provided funding to Purbeck Community Rail Partnership (PCRP) to employ a dedicated Community Rail Partnership Officer.

Kelly Marshall, the newly-appointed Community Rail Partnership Officer, will focus on working with local communities in the Purbeck area, SWR, Network Rail, and with well-established adopters at Wareham and Wool stations, to promote the benefits of using the railway.

PCRP's initial plans include working with SWR’s Community Ambassadors to organise a 'Try the Train' trip for a group that currently feels excluded from the railway. Ms Marshall will also help the community partnership attract funding for future developments, including supporting the Swanage Heritage Railway line.

Kelly Marshall, PCRP's new Community Rail Partnership Officer, said:

“I am looking forward to the challenge of my new role as Purbeck’s first Community Rail Partnership Officer which includes a wide range of projects such as re-instating a regular train service from the Swanage Railway to the main line at Wareham, improving social inclusion and promoting Purbeck’s railways with the aim of enhancing education, employment, leisure and tourism across the area.

“I am also looking forward to working with the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership’s steering and stakeholder groups as well as the South Western Railway, Network Rail, local councils and the Association of Community Rail Partnerships.”

Councillor Bill Trite, PCRP's Chairman, said:
“I warmly welcome our new Community Rail Partnership Officer Kelly Marshall. She has much to familiarise herself with in the coming weeks but has already demonstrated the ability to learn quickly and understand the essentials of the Rail Partnership.

“Kelly’s role is central to the achievement of the Partnership’s objectives. I wish her every success in the job and I hope that she enjoys it too."

Andy Harrowell, SWR’s Community Rail Manager, added:
“We have provided funding to eight Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) across our network, to both employ a part time officer, and to deliver projects which support the communities around our stations. We are delighted to be welcoming Kelly and look forward to working with her in the future to build on the successes we have had together so far.”

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