Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) act
as a bridge between local communities and the railway industry to produce a
better train service for the community. Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership
is one of a growing number of Community Rail Partnerships across the country.
Who is involved with the Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership?
The Marston Vale line was designated as a Community Rail Service in November 2006 and brings together a number of organisations working in partnership.
The partnership is
led by Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity together with Silverlink, Bedford
County Council, Milton Keynes Council, Bedford Borough Council, Mid Bedfordshire
District Council, the Bedford to Bletchley Railway Users Association, Network
Rail, the Forest of Marston Vale and the Bedfordshire Association of Town and
Parish Councils.
What is the aim of the Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership?
The aims of the Community Rail Partnership are:
to improve facilities for existing users
to generate new business for rail
increasing the number of people using the line for
work and leisure
ensuring the line has a long and financially sustainable future.
The partnership will do this in a number of ways such as looking at the wider transport links to and from the railway, organising a variety of events such as a Community fun day in the summer, and themed special trains and guided walks events.
The Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership Officer will also be closely involved with local regeneration initiatives and will work alongside local communities. Residents along the line will be encouraged to be the eyes and ears of their local station, reporting any vandalism to ensure it is promptly dealt with, while at the same time putting forward suggestions for enhancing all aspects of the service.
The Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership is a means of providing better transport facilities for local communities and a way of involving local people with their railway.
From Bedford to Bletchley: the Marston Vale Line
The Marston Vale Line offers an opportunity to view some wonderful countryside at your leisure and there is plenty of history along the way. Travelling along the line you will see where John Bunyan gazed down on the men, women and children in the brickfields which inspired a number of his works. Walk between stations and grab a pub lunch before returning to the train to take in the rest the varied line has to offer.
In Bedford take a walk along the Great River Ouse or discover its wide range of shops. In the heart of Bedford there is the John Bunyan Museum, Cecil Higgins Museum and Art Gallery and fantastic markets most days of the week.
Just off the line there is the Forest of Marston Vale where there are 5 miles of traffic free cycle paths and walks for all in the spectacular Millennium Country Park. The Forest Centre, a pleasant 20 minute walk from Stewartby and Millbrook stations, has a superb shop and restaurant. Cycles can also be hired from here to discover the attractions of the Forest (visit their website for more information). Nearby there is the Greensand Ridge Walk: Bedfordshires premier long distance route split into five sections for easier walking.
Bletchley at the other end of the Marston Vale line is a real enigma! But with Bletchley Park on the doorstep of the station you will easily break the code (visit their website for more infromation). Also in Bletchley there are many shops and markets.
The new town of Milton Keynes is only a short hop by train where there is a wealth of shops and attractions including some impressive urban park lands, interesting architecture and sculptures all easily accessed by one of the best cycle routes in the country.
At Bletchley you can also connect with trains linking to London and the North. Visit the Marston Vale line for a superb rail visit.
Find out about train times, days out, buy tickets and lots more for the Marston Vale Line.
Further information or to get involved contact: Stephen Sleight, Transport
Officer, Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity, The Old School, Cardington,
Bedford, MK44 3SX. 01234 832645
Bedford River Festival 2008
Avoid the traffic jams to the River Festival and let the train take the
strain! An hourly service will be operating throughout the day on the Marston
Vale line between Bletchley and Bedford on the Saturday. Hop off at the official
Festival Station Bedford St. Johns for the short walk along the river to the
Festival Site. A special Fireworks Flyer service will be leaving
Bedford for Bletchley after the fireworks at 11:10 p.m. on the Saturday evening
calling at all stations on the Marston Vale line. A special hourly service will
be running on the Sunday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The cheap day return fare between Bletchley and Bedford is just 5.10p with
children between 5 and 15 travelling at 2.55p (under 5s go free). Why not use
the London Midland Group Save ticket to buy four cheap day returns for the price
of two? Up to four children can travel with the group for just 1.00p each. For
further information please contact London Midland Customer Relations on 08456
024277 or visit the new official Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership
website.
The special service has been provided by the Marston Vale Community Rail
Partnership in association with London Midland. The Partnership has been set up
to act as a bridge between the rail industry and the community to encourage more
people to use the train for travel to work and leisure, and to share their views
and ideas for improving their railway. The Partnership will be running a range
of special events throughout the year.
Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users Association
For more information or to become a member visit their Website or send an SAE to Richard Crane, 23 Hatfield
Cres, Bedford, MK41 9RA.
Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity.
Contact: info@bedsrcc.org.uk
Registered
charity no 1061538. A company limited by guarantee and registered in
England no 3327628.
Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) act
as a bridge between local communities and the railway industry to produce a
better train service for the community. Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership
is one of a growing number of Community Rail Partnerships across the country.
The Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership Officer will also be closely involved with local regeneration initiatives and will work alongside local communities. Residents along the line will be encouraged to be the eyes and ears of their local station, reporting any vandalism to ensure it is promptly dealt with, while at the same time putting forward suggestions for enhancing all aspects of the service.
In Bedford take a walk along the Great River Ouse or discover its wide range of shops. In the heart of Bedford there is the John Bunyan Museum, Cecil Higgins Museum and Art Gallery and fantastic markets most days of the week.
The new town of Milton Keynes is only a short hop by train where there is a wealth of shops and attractions including some impressive urban park lands, interesting architecture and sculptures all easily accessed by one of the best cycle routes in the country.
Marston
Vale Community Rail Partnership
