Greater Anglia trains campaign to highlight hidden gems including in Hertfordshire

They're getting involved in a national awareness campaign

Published 31st Jul 2021

East Anglia’s community rail partnerships are getting involved in a national awareness campaign to get local residents back on track.

The campaign is to promote the delightful sights and benefits of ‘Days Out by Rail’ which is coordinated by Community Rail Network.

The idea is to encourage day-trippers and leisure travellers to get on the trains for eco-friendly and fun adventures.

The initiative is eight weeks long and wants to emphasise that rail is one of the greenest ways to travel, as well as walking, cycling and buses.

They want to show how avoiding traffic jams, parking and pollution whilst on a day out, will greatly benefit your trip or short break.

East Anglia’s six community rail partnerships work at a grassroots level to engage and benefit local people and promote rail as a sustainable form of travel.

As part of the campaign, they want to promote healthy travel in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire, all of which will be showcasing places to visit along Greater Anglia’s rural branch lines.

Days Out by Rail will be focusing on eight themes: explore off the beaten trac, marvel at spectacular views; enjoy purse-friendly days out; reconnect with family; discover what’s on their doorstep, plan days out with friends; explore scenic walking & cycling routes and enjoy time out just for grown-ups, by train.

Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, 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 the country.

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.”

Their Scenic Rail Britain site is the go-to reference and planning tool to discover scenic and historic rail journeys in England, Scotland and Wales.

It shows how day-trippers and holidaymakers can uncover hidden gems across coastal, country and city destinations using the vast network of Britain’s community rail lines.

Greater Anglia is seeing some trains and train stations getting busier as more people return to rail, and more trains have been added to the timetable.

There is a ‘Less Busy Trains tool’ at greateranglia.co.uk where you can opt for a quieter train.

Face covering compliance is high on trains and stations and trains are well ventilated either by air conditioning which replaces air inside the train every six to nine minutes or by open windows.

Full details of the revised timetable and measures Greater Anglia is taking to keep people safe are available from www.greateranglia.co.uk