“A Tribute to The Heart of the Tracks” was a year-long photography project developed as part of the Railway200 celebrations and part funded by GTR. Led by students from SupaJam College in Hove, the project explored the human side of the railway network by documenting authentic interactions between young people and Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR) staff across stations in Brighton and Hove.
The project culminated in a public exhibition at Hove Station, showcasing a collection of photographs celebrating railway staff, community connection and the important role rail travel plays in students’ lives.
Many SupaJam students travel daily by train to attend college. Rail transport is therefore not only a practical necessity but also an important part of students’ independence, routine and access to education.
As part of the national Railway200 celebrations and part funded by a Railway 200 grant from GTR, SupaJam partnered with the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership and local station teams to create a project that would highlight the people behind the rail network and strengthen young people’s engagement with their local community.
The project aimed to:
• Celebrate the contribution and diversity of railway staff across the GTR network
• Raise awareness of the human element behind rail operations
• Provide students with practical photography and storytelling experience
• Encourage confidence, creativity and community engagement among young people
• Strengthen partnerships between education providers, the rail industry and community organisations
• Contribute to the Railway200 programme through a locally-led creative project
SupaJam is an alternative music college supporting young people through an inclusive music industry-based curriculum. The organisation works with students who may face barriers within mainstream education, helping them engage through creativity, practical learning and industry-focused opportunities.
Through projects such as “A Tribute to The Heart of the Tracks”, SupaJam continues to create meaningful partnerships that connect education, community and culture.
Over the course of a year, students and teachers visited multiple railway locations including Hove, Brighton and Preston Park stations.
Students captured spontaneous documentary-style images of interactions between railway staff and passengers, focusing particularly on moments involving SupaJam students themselves. The photography aimed to move beyond infrastructure and trains, instead highlighting the people who keep the network functioning safely and effectively every day.
Alongside station photography, students also documented rehearsals and live performances around Brighton and Hove, linking the themes of music, movement and travel that are central to student life at SupaJam.
The project provided hands-on creative industry experience, allowing students to develop skills in photography, communication, collaboration and public exhibition preparation.
The project successfully delivered a public-facing exhibition at Hove Station that engaged commuters, rail staff and the local community.
"The SupaJam students have engaged enthusiastically in this community partnership project, celebrating creativity and exploring community connections, helping to shine a light on the vital role of the railway, in bringing people together. Our students are looking forward to performing at the launch event."
“Our station staff work at the heart of every community: they know the places they serve inside out, are a friendly and familiar face for our passengers and, most importantly, help you get where you need to be. "I am delighted to see these fantastic pictures celebrating the people who keep our railway running - they tell a great story of the relationships we've forged with the students at SupaJam, giving them the opportunity to develop new skills and showcase them in public, which is just what our grant set out to do." The project was funded with a grant from Southern’s Railway 200 community grant scheme, commemorating 200 years of the modern railway and recognising the importance of rail in shaping communities and opportunity across the UK. SupaJam’s inclusive music-industry-based curriculum supports young people who may struggle in traditional education settings, helping them engage through creativity, confidence building and real-world experiences.