A community rail partnership event with Surrey Hills National Landscape, including a commissioned new poster for the North Downs Line Stations by the printmaker Diana Croft. The vibrant lino-cut artwork provides an eye-catching design showing visitors arriving by the Surrey Connect Bus at National Trust Leith Hill Place, to encourage people to use car-free travel to visit the childhood home of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.
The event included an unveiling of the colourful poster at Dorking Deepdene Station with local councillor Hazel Watson and Tim Hall, Vice-Chair of Surrey County Council; followed by a trip on the Surrey Connect electric minibus to National Trust Leith Hill Place, with it distinctive bright pink door, for a cream tea and the launch of a new booklet including all the rail to ramble routes promoted by Surrey Hills National Landscape. The printing of this booklet was funded by Community Rail Network.
The event really highlighted the importance of the improved service for the Surrey Connect Bus and the importance of encouraging car-free travel in the Surrey Hills. It promoted the existing rail to ramble routes and demonstrated the ways that the Community Rail Partnership works together with local groups, such as Surrey Hills National Landscape and Surrey County Council to promote integrated transport and active travel.
“I’m delighted we have again expanded our popular Surrey Connect service which will enable visitors to Leith Hill Place and to the countryside travel sustainably, and at a time convenient to them. Our service is already running in many areas across Surrey where traditional bus services are limited, and adding this additional stop will improve accessibility and reduce the number of cars travelling to one of Surrey’s most popular green spaces”