YATTON Railway Station is taking part in a nationwide campaign aimed at helping communities get the most from their railways.

Yatton Station, which is one of 178 stations across the South West 'adopted' by volunteer groups, is supported by community-led organisation Severnside Community Rail Partnership.

To mark Community Rail Week (May 20-26), the station is showcasing community initiatives as part of their 'More Than a Railway' campaign.

It is hoped that this will help put railways and stations at the heart of community life.

Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, which organises Community Rail Week, said: "The community rail movement – which is thriving and delivering so much across the South West – shows how communities and railways, and the wider transport sector, can work together with amazing results, enhancing local places and changing lives."

Hayden, a volunteer who runs a bike club on the Strawberry Line, regularly uses the train.

He said: “Every Wednesday I take an after-school club out on bikes on the Strawberry Line. We clean and fix bikes – repairing the bikes is something I really like doing.  

“I catch the train every Wednesday and Saturday to get to my job, which I love to do. I feel comfortable and independent about catching the train on my own.” 

Sally Wilcock of the Strawberry Line Café said: “Hayden has done really well. He came to us on a work placement and then interviewed to become a volunteer. He worked really hard when he was volunteering with us, developing his skills and showing that he was ready to work as part of an adult workplace team. 

“Like a lot of our young people on placements, Hayden travels to us by train. We encourage as many people as we can to be able to learn travel skills safely in order to travel independently.” 

GWR business assurance director Joe Graham said: “We are extremely proud that Yatton Station has been chosen to mark the launch of national Community Rail Week.

"Supported by Severnside Community Rail Partnership, the volunteers are a brilliant example of what can be achieved for the benefit of the local community. 

“Great Western Railway has 11 community rail partnerships on our network and Community Rail Week provides the perfect showcase for their incredible work.

"They have great local knowledge and I know that they all work incredibly hard, inspiring sustainable improvements to their community and the local economy. 

“We have been pleased to support the Strawberry Line Cycle Project through our GWR Community Fund in recent years, and know all about the benefits it brings not just to the local area, but to visitors from further afield.”