A community rail partnership project supported by CrossCountry has earned national recognition for inspiring young people in the Cumbrian village of Brampton to explore railway heritage through music.
CrossCountry is celebrating alongside Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership after the Edmondson Song Project received national recognition at this year's National Rail Awards, often regarded as the railway industry's equivalent of the Oscars.
The project was named Best Local Railway 200 Event of the Year, marking a second major success after previously securing first place in the Railway 200 Legacy Award category at the Community Rail Awards.
Supported through CrossCountry's Community Engagement Fund, the initiative brought together pupils from Hallbankgate Village School, Lanercost CE Primary School and William Howard School in Brampton to discover and celebrate their area's railway heritage.
Working alongside singer-songwriters Gareth and Bronwen Davies-Jones, students explored the history of Brampton Railway Station, its first stationmaster Thomas Edmondson, and the area's connections to Stephenson's Rocket. Drawing on their research, the young people wrote and performed original songs that celebrated local railway history, innovation and the enduring impact of rail on their community.
Alongside learning about local heritage, participants developed creative and technical skills, built confidence using the railway and gained a deeper understanding of how rail services connect rural communities to education, employment and wider opportunities.
Alex Bray, CrossCountry's Stakeholder Manager, added:
"This is a fantastic achievement for Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership and a proud moment for everyone who supported the project. It's been wonderful to see young people engaging with the railway in such an imaginative way, while also celebrating the heritage and innovation that shaped rail travel in this part of the country."
Anne Ridley, Director of Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership, said:
"We're so pleased to have worked with CrossCountry on a project that has created such joy and lasting memories for the young people involved. Their support helped us bring together schools, musicians and the local community to celebrate Brampton's railway heritage in a really creative way. To see that partnership recognised with two national awards is wonderful."
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