WMRE executive director to chair community rail partnership covering Coventry and Warwickshire

The Heart of England Community Rail Partnership (CRP) has appointed West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) director Malcolm Holmes as chair.

The Partnership covers 36 stations in Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire and brings together volunteer groups who adopt, improve and use their local railway stations for the good of their communities as well as delivering projects that tie in with the four pillars of community rail:

• Providing a voice for the community;
• Promoting sustainable and healthy travel (the extra mile);
• Bringing communities together and supporting diversity and inclusion;
• Supporting social and economic development.

The organisation’s online annual meeting was attended by volunteers, train company representatives, local authorities, project partners and more, and saw the launch of the Heart of England CRP’s 2021 Annual Report as well as the election of the chair.

Projects undertaken during the last year include creating a rail safety video as part of a schools rail safety programme, organising a 'Go Green by Rail' Pledge Day for Community Rail Week and working with Coventry Transport Museum to deliver Sustainable Stations workshops.

 

Malcolm has 30 years experience in the railway sector and held senior posts at Chiltern Railways and LOROL and has been executive director at WMRE for the past five years. 

 

Malcolm said: "Community rail plays a vital role in the continued development of our railways. WMRE is one of Heart of England CRP's partners and I've seen first hand the positive impact they're having on our local railways. I look forward to having greater involvement in the CRP, strengthening our engagement with local communities."

 

To find out more about the activities of the region’s CRP’s and how to volunteer at local railway stations download the full 2021 annual report here.