The Days Out by Rail campaign, coordinated by Community Rail Network, aims to inspire and encourage day-trippers and leisure travellers to jump aboard a train, for exciting, fun, eco-friendly outings. Days Out by Rail draws on local insights and ideas from community rail, a grassroots movement spanning Britain, which involves communities and volunteers with their local railways and stations.
The initiative is raising awareness about rail as one of the greenest ways to travel – especially combined with walking, cycling and buses – avoiding traffic jams, parking and pollution. The campaign encourages people to leave the car at home and take the train to cut carbon emissions by two thirds, while enabling exploration of lesser-known spots as part of a day out, short break or staycation.
The Midlands is one of the most diverse tourist destinations in Britain, boasting a wealth of exciting attractions, scenic walking routes and heritage sites easily accessible by rail. Journey through picturesque Lincolnshire countryside along the Poacher Line (Nottingham to Skegness via Grantham) stopping off to visit the world’s only working 8 sailed windmill next door to Heckington Station, discover the fascinating heritage of the Staffordshire Potteries with a trip on the North Staffordshire Line (Derby to Crewe via Stoke), meanwhile the Derwent Valley Line (Derby to Matlock www.derwentvalleyline.org.uk), nestled in the heart of Derbyshire, provides easy access to Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and the historic cable cars at Matlock Bath.
The Midlands’ seven community rail partnerships, including Poacher Line, North Staffordshire Line and the Derwent Valley Line will be highlighting places to visit and things to do across the region as part of the campaign.
Alastair Morley, Derwent Valley Community Rail Partnership, said: “We’re proud to support Community Rail Network’s Days Out by Rail campaign as it’s a great opportunity to promote our wonderful railway lines to visitors nationwide. We hope the campaign can help encourage people to visit by rail rather than car. As well as being a more relaxing and pleasurable way to travel, exploring Derbyshire by rail benefits the local economy, and means less traffic, noise and pollution in our communities.”
Chris Tarrant, adventurer, veteran broadcaster and presenter of Channel 5's Extreme Railway Journeys has applauded the Scenic Rail Britain campaign. From the rail travel aficionado's admission of never having been a trainspotter, it is the chance to visit new places that excite him most about rail travel. His love of traveling by train on home soil began when he swapped extreme railways in far off lands to discover more of Britain by rail in 2017.
Tarrant said: “This campaign will hopefully encourage people to take the train more this summer.
“What’s not to like about sitting back and watching the scenery roll by. Britain has some of the most stunning scenery in the world and a rail journey is part of the adventure.”
Chief executive of Community Rail Network Jools Townsend, said: “Many people don’t realise the scope for seeing Britain’s stunning landscapes, pretty villages and historic sites by rail – and making use of our wonderful, often little-known, community rail lines and stations is a great way to do this.
“We are excited to launch our Days Out by Rail campaign with help from community rail partnerships and station volunteers across Yorkshire. This campaign is all about drawing on the local knowledge and insights from the community rail movement, and sharing that with families, day-trippers and holidaymakers.
“We hope to inspire more people to explore our beautiful countryside and fascinating heritage through green and scenic journeys by rail, avoiding the stress and pollution of driving and parking.”
