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Network RailCommunity Scheme

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Community Scheme – What’s that?

So it’s Network Rail’s answer to

station adoption?

Yes, but it’s not ‘station’ and it’s not ‘adoption’

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Station Adoption or Community Scheme?

Red area is managed by the Train Operator, so Station Adoption

Green is Network Rail directly-managed land, so Community Scheme

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Why have it?

• Most railway land is outside station lease

• ‘Informal’ schemes are vulnerable (e.g. West Dulwich)

• Equitable – it doesn’t depend on ‘who you know’

• No legal/admin costs (unlike a lease)

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Community Scheme

• More hazardous environment than public areas of a station

• No resource for Network Rail to manage volunteers, so...

• Volunteers form a group and manage themselves, through...

• A ‘Licence’ agreement with Network Rail (separate one for Scottish law)

• Specified activities: e.g. “maintaining a garden”, “clearing litter”, “removing graffiti”

• Specified scheme area and safe access route(s)

• Power tools, spraying, under-16s etc need specific agreement

• Safety briefing before volunteers start work

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How does it work?

• Group carries out its own risk assessment and signs licence agreement on behalf of its members

• ‘One-Off’ scheme: – Usually one or two days– People turn up on the day– Network Rail provides safety briefing and supervises

• ‘Long-Term’ scheme– NR installs permanent fence and/or gate, if needed– Group members safety briefed then work unsupervised– Agreement is renewed every year

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An Example: Frome

Authorised access route

Fencing: Platform end ramp

Fencing: Line side and platform end ramp

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This year’s Must-Have Accessories

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Has it worked?

• 52 long-term schemes and 17 one-offs so far.

– 4 disused branch lines

–10 disused platforms

–5 wildflower meadows

–a crossing-keepers’ hut

–a botanic garden

–a gnome sanctuary

• Around 600 volunteers

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Publicising the Schemes

• Search ‘Community Schemes’ on www.networkrail.co.uk

• A chance for groups to tell us about their schemes

• Here are just some of them....

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A canal (Causeland)

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An embankment (Homerton)

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Half a station (March)

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A disused platform (Chandlers Ford)

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Small buildings

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A community scheme on a station??

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Where next?

• 10-15 schemes in the pipeline

• Similar number of ‘proposals’ at any time

• Including this wagon!

• And......

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Wildlife

• Railway land is a natural wildlife corridor

• Wild flowers suit poor soil

• Groups can look after a larger area than with conventional gardening

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Wildlife Areas

Thank you!