Last week in the splendid setting of Reigate Town Hall the North Downs Line Steering Group welcomed new Line Chair Hannah Godfrey, Surface Area Manager at Gatwick Airport, new Community Rail Line Officer Sara Grisewood and Education Officer Cath Reed. Together they will work to emphasise the important role of community rail, promoting the line with new and ongoing projects. Plans discussed included: promoting the new timetable of two direct trains an hour to Reading from Gatwick; the recent handover of keys to Mike Knott at Farnborough North to develop the stationmaster’s house as a community hub; new posters and wayfinding with Surrey Hills AONB, and also with BVCT; and forging links with difficult to reach groups, including young people, to encourage wider use of rail transport. The meeting also coincided with the news that the mural by Julie Hoyle in the underpass at Guildford has been shortlisted for a design award.
