Making the most of local railways (Plymouth Branch)

Making the most of local railways – Community Rail and the work of the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership 

A talk by Richard Burningham, MBE

Richard has managed Britain’s first rail partnership, the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership, based at the University of Plymouth, since 1998.  It is a non-profit partnership between local authorities, the railway and the University of Plymouth and its objectives include promoting the branch lines, engaging the community, supporting economic growth and helping deliver improvements.  He and the partnership have been closely involved in many improvements to Devon and Cornwall’s railways over the last 25 years, not least the expansion of all year Sunday train services across the branch lines and the re-opening of the Dartmoor Line between Exeter and Okehampton in 2021. Current work includes Mid Cornwall Metro and helping the campaign to return the railway to Tavistock. Richard is a Director and past Chair of Community Rail’s national membership body, the Community Rail Network.  The Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership is one – the first – of now 75 Community Rail partnerships across the country.  

The Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership works to: 

• promote the branch lines in the two counties
• seek improvements to services and stations
• engage with local communities including schools
• support economic growth by attracting outside investment 

Thanks to the partnership, the rural branch lines of the two counties have a robust train service and are busier now than they have ever been. The partnership has been recognised many times for its work nationally at Community Rail awards with the volunteer projects winning awards in a number of categories including Involving Young People and Volunteer of the Year.