Funding available for East Devon Line Community Rail projects

Wednesday 23rd January 2019
Up to £10,000 is available to help pay for community projects on or linked to the East Devon Line and its stations thanks to a new fund being launched by the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership and South Western Railway (SWR).

The East Devon Line is the section of SWR’s Waterloo – Exeter route in Devon and includes Axminster, Honiton, Feniton, Whimple, Cranbrook and Pinhoe stations.
Ideas could include artwork, projects with schools, young people and other groups, promotions to encourage people to visit by train or to encourage local people to take the train or it could be something different, but it must be on or linked to the East Devon Line. Both organisations are also keen to hear from groups who would like to get more involved in planting or artwork at the locations, as part of SWR’s station adoption programme. 

The East Devon Line Community Rail Fund can help provide up to £2,500 per project.  Funding for larger projects may also be possible from other sources.  For example, from 2020, SWR will have a new Customer and Communities Improvement Fund which will make £2.6 million a year available for projects across its network.

Richard Burningham, Manager of the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership said
“We are keen to encourage projects large and small linked to the railway in East Devon and are looking forward to hearing local people’s ideas and hopefully helping turn them into reality.”  

Andrew Harrowell, Community Rail Manager for South Western Railway said
“At SWR, we are committed to our communities. This includes providing funding to eight Community Rail Partnerships across our network. We are delighted to be part of the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and I’m sure that the funds, which are available directly to the communities between Axminster and Exeter will encourage everyone to get involved and have a really positive effect on these stations.”

More information about the Fund is available online at www.dcrp.org.uk/news or from Richard Burningham on 01752 584777 or railpart@plymouth.ac.uk  
The Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership is a non-profit partnership of councils, the rail industry and the University of Plymouth.  Leading members include Devon County Council and South Western Railway.  The Partnership works to promote use of trains, seek improvements to services and facilities, boost the local economy and link the community with the railway.

One local idea which the Partnership has already helped has seen vinyls with attractive images of East Devon put up in waiting shelters at Honiton and Axminster stations.  The project was the brainchild of East Devon District Council Tourism Lead Cllr Jenny Brown.

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