Britain’s leading independent organisation campaigning for better rail services has honoured us with a prestigious award.
Railfuture has named the Council a “torch bearer in rail development” and presented Councillor Andrea Davis, our Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, with its Judges’ Special Award.
The accolade from the judges of Railfuture’s Rail User Group (RUG) awards is in recognition of our sustained delivery of rail projects across Devon.
It’s the first time Railfuture has presented an award to a local authority. We were praised for a series of rail and public transport improvements including:
- the opening of Marsh Barton Station as the most recent of three new stations in the Devon Metro,
- being awarded DfT funding for the Strategic Outline Business Case for the Tavistock to Plymouth Restoring Your Railway project,
- its role in the reopening of the Dartmoor Line, followed by securing Levelling Up funding for a new rail station on the east side of Okehampton,
- strengthening bus and rail integration with dedicated bus links including connections between Tavistock, Bude and Launceston with the Dartmoor Line and providing additional funding for bus services in rural North Devon to enhance connections to Barnstaple Railway Station.
They also highlighted that these projects had been achieved through Devon’s close working with train operators and other key stakeholders.
Councillor Andrea Davis, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said:
“This award is an unexpected honour and an incredible achievement for the County Council. Our Devon Metro vision has a strategy to improve access to rail services in order to support economic growth, decarbonise transport and connect communities across Devon. To have delivered three new railway stations in recent years as part of that vision has taken a huge commitment, but all credit goes our staff who have been involved in making it possible. Partnership working has been key to that success as well and we will continue to strive for further improvement. It’s extremely pleasing to know that effort has been recognised by Railfuture and we thank them for this award.”
Christian Wolmar, award-winning writer and broadcaster and Honorary President of Railfuture, presented the award to Councillor Davis. He said: “In this 9th year of our awards this is the first to a local authority, one which has a very proud record of delivering a succession of rail and other public transport improvements to benefit the county’s residents, businesses and visitors. This is what happens with clear leadership and strong partnerships.”
Railfuture is a voluntary group representing rail users, with 20,000 affiliated and individual members. Railfuture is not funded by train companies, political parties or trade unions. For more information visit the Railfuture website.