Community Rail Partnership Joins ‘Days Out by Rail’ Campaign

The East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership is getting involved in a national awareness campaign, launching today to promote the delights and benefits rail travel.

‘Days Out by Rail’ which is coordinated by Community Rail Network aims to inspire and encourage day-tripper and leisure travellers to jump aboard a train, for exciting, fun, eco-friendly outings. The campaign draws on local insights and ideas from community rail, a grassroots movement spanning Britain, which involves communities and volunteers with their local railways and stations. The eight-week initiative is designed to raise awareness about rail as one of the greenest ways to travel – especially combined with walking, cycling and buses – avoiding traffic jams, parking and pollution, while enabling exploration of lesser-known spots as part of a day out, short break or staycation.

The East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership will be showcasing places to visit and things to do along the Ipswich – Lowestoft and Ipswich – Felixstowe lines as part of the campaign. The Community Rail Partnership will also be promoting its East Suffolk Lines one-day Ranger ticket, Felixstowe Trail Competition, Folk East festival connecting shuttle bus, Katch taxi-bus from Wickham Market station to Framlingham, and its station-to-station walks and Guided Walks to promote & encourage rail travel.

Community Rail Network is the national umbrella body for 74 community rail partnerships and 1,000 station friends groups working locally to help communities get the most from their railways and benefit from sustainable travel. 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.

You can view the short video ‘Scenic Rail Adventures. Explore By Train’ below.

The East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership works at a grassroots level to engage and benefit local people and promote rail as a key part of sustainable, healthy travel.


Days Out by Rail will focus on eight themes, inspiring and encouraging leisure travellers to: explore off the beaten track; 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.”