Below is a copy of the Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station's December 2020 newsletter.
The group aim to produce an informative newsletter at least twice a year, particularly around the time the railway timetables change for May and December. This one was produced to inform users of the railway station about the restoration of the hourly train service on a Sunday and most trains being direct to and from Sheffield via Hull in the December 2020 timetable change. Previous newsletters are on separate webpages.
Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station Newsletter December 2020
Restoration of full train service at Hunmanby:
From Sunday 13th December, the train service at Hunmanby will be restored to the full pre COVID timetable. As well as an hourly train service Monday to Saturday, trains will be improved on a Sunday to hourly and 7 days a week most train will be through trains to or from Sheffield via Hull. Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station have produced a new timetable for the community information displays to help users of the station. A new timetable and event guide for the village will be produced, for the May 2021 timetable change and delivered door to door around the village. https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/timetables
Friends of Hunmanby Facebook Page:
Thanks to Lindsay for putting together the Facebook page for the railway station. It is another means of promoting the lovely historic village to both residents and visitors. Further details from: Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station Facebook page
National Community Rail Awards:
On 9th December, Hunmanby were awarded 1st prize in the Small Project Award (£500 or less) at the Community Rail Awards, with a project called. ‘Attracting passengers to Hunmanby’s new hourly train service.'
When Hunmanby was shortlisted for the National Community Rail Awards the friends group thanked those in Local and National Government, the Rail Industry, voluntary groups, and local traders. Winning this award is a tribute to all who have helped get Hunmanby and other stations like Filey and Bempton the best train service in their history and the people who have used the new train service. Every ticket purchased matters!** The project at Hunmanby was about attracting passengers to their new hourly train service. Thinking had to be 'outside the box,' Hunmanby village has some of the highest Chronic illness rates in the country, is a 20-minute walk from most homes, and has no car park. If Hunmanby could increase numbers, the ideas may help others rural lines. It is thanks to people like David Murton (Filey) and Godfrey Allanson (Muston) between them over a Century in Local Government, championing the local rail service. Through their efforts and others like them, the line did not close in 1969 (Cottingham to Seamer Junction). Revitalising Hunmanby station started with Eileen Piper who formed Hunmanby in Bloom in 2005 and that winter a start was made improving the station with volunteers, rail community involvement was in its infancy. This work coupled with promoting the train station help raise passenger journeys from 13,399 to 18,976 between 2005/6 and 2006/7 a rise of 41%. At the time it was flagged as suspect by the Office of Rail and Road but continued to grow over subsequent years! This year passenger journeys at Hunmanby increased 22,704 to 32,458** a rise of 43% (exceeding the groups estimates of 30% in their submission.) Over these years the rail industry has embraced community involvement, both in direct benefits, passenger growth, reduced anti-social issues particularly as well as the added value of social cohesion that the railway industry brings to the community. The rail industry gives generous support to station groups around the country. The Community Rail Awards showcase ideas from around the network. Ideas much broader than the image of station gardens. This uplifting link below to yesterday's Community Rail Awards is inspiring for all. Many of the unique ideas could be used in community projects not just at a railway station. (Hunmanby is on page 13) Further details of the National Community Rail Awards 2020
The path to an hourly train service started a decade ago:
In 2009, a consultation document by Network Rail called the Draft Yorkshire & Humber Route Utilization Strategy. The document was at a time when passenger use was rising dramatically, planning a railway to meet extra demand. The Hull to Scarborough Line was not listed for improvement, but a wide range of community organisations wrote in asking if an improved hourly service could be looked at. This ranged from NHS Yorkshire, Filey School, Bridlington Renaissance, The University in Scarborough, Filey Tourism Association, Filey Town Council, and RSPB Bempton, organisations outside the normal responders to such a document. Network Rail in their report commissioned a Cost/Benefit report and published the findings. At the time it did not meet the funding criteria in 2009, but as growth on the railway network, especially in the North continued it formed the base for a regular hourly service to be put into the new Rail Franchise for Northern Rail. It was a good example of a consultation. The result is that all these organisations share in the success. On the night, Local councillors Roberta Swiers, North Yorkshire County Council; Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff and Paul Riley Scarborough Borough Council; and Yanina Sheeran, Hunmanby Parish Council, represented Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station, all have been generous with their support for the group.
North Eastern Tile Map for Hunmanby Railway Station
The full sized, North Eastern Railway Tile Map, over 6 foot square will be arriving in Hunmanby for Christmas. It will be installed at Hunmanby railway station, next year. Over the winter (after the excitement of Festive Season in the gloomy months of January and February, in a Covid secure way) The tile map will be on temporary display in the village, particularly in settings for older residents. Hazel Garth Residential Home, Hunmanby Methodist Church, Spring Café, Pop Inn’s at Hunmanby Community Centre. The village has several residents who were born in the era of the North Eastern Railway 1854 to 1923
Link to Craven Dunnill Jackfield - Custom Handmade Tiles & Ceramics Since 1872
Made by hand at the original works by Craven Dunnill in Ironbridge. This is a generous donation to the village by a person who wishes to remain anonymous and will be placed on Hunmanby Brick station house wall. It will be the first occasion that a Tile Map has been erected at a main line station in over 100 years and complement the existing ones at Whitby, Scarborough and Beverley
Link to Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station North Eastern Railway Tile Map page
New Veterans Railcard:
Currently it is estimated that 830,000 Veterans do not currently qualify for a Rail Card. This changed in November 2020. If you have served for at least one day in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve) or Merchant Mariners and seen duty on legally defined military operations, you may be eligible. The Veterans Railcard is available at an introductory price of just £21 for one year, if purchased before 31 March 2021. That's a saving of £9 on the normal retail price of £30. A 3-year Railcard is also available for an introductory price of just £61, if purchased before 31 March 2021, instead of the normal retail price of £70. Like all National Railcards it will offer savings of 1/3 off most rail travel, whether visiting family and friends or simply enjoying a day out. Another bonus is you can also nominate a companion to get 1/3 off when travelling with you and up to 4 children travelling with you get 60% off. Full details of the new Veterans Railcard are available from The Veterans Railcard Webpage
D-day veteran has train named in his honour by Great Western Railway
Link to Sir Tom Moore receiving launching the Veterans Railcard.
Harvest Giveaway:
In September, Northern Rail introduced a new train timetable with a regular hourly weekday train service at the village station. To promote this, from the first train at 6.25am to the last at 9.36pm. Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station had a table at the entrance to each platform with free vegetables, fruit, and flowers for users of the station and the local community. This was donated by Hunmanby allotment holders and gardeners from the village. All left over produce was taken to the Spring Cafe, Hunmanby Free Fridge Project, and Eastfield Westway Open Arms Project. Radio York produced this uplifting short video of the event, which links to a series of other good news stories from Yorkshire
Updated 22.10.2021