With thanks to funding from Great Western Railway’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund, the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership and Surrey Hills National Landscape commissioned local artist Diana Croft to create railway posters which champion sustainable travel along the North Downs Line. This line connecting Reading to London Gatwick Airport offers a beautiful train ride through the rolling Surrey Hills, with views of the chalk North Downs hillside, St Martha’s Hill and characterful towns and villages such as Shalford, Chilworth and Gomshall.
Following the poster launch, attendees experienced a delightful short walk to the nearby Gunpowder Mills, a fascinating site of industrial heritage and wildlife biodiversity along the Shalford to Chilworth Rail to Ramble route. The event culminated at the charming Percy Arms, further underscoring the region’s rich local business offerings.
Eleanor Wills, GWR Regional Development Manager (East), said:
“The Customer and Community Improvement Fund is a fantastic opportunity for us to invest in projects that really make a difference to our customers and communities at a local level. These posters provide a perfect guide to the wealth of amazing walking routes within easy reach of the North Downs Line.”
Katie Stewart, Executive Director for Environment, Infrastructure and Growth at Surrey County Council said:
“Surrey County Council celebrates the recognition of the pivotal role that sustainable travel has in preserving the landscape of the Surrey Hills. This project demonstrates the importance of working together to ensure that visitors by train have a warm welcome on viewing the beautiful new posters and then can enjoy a great experience visiting the outstanding countryside and supporting our local businesses on the well maintained and waymarked trails.”
Photo: Partners and supporters standing in front of the new Rail to Ramble poster at Chilworth station. Including representatives from GWR, Voluntary Action SW Surrey, Surrey Hills National Landscape, Waverly Borough Council, Matt Furniss Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth Decisions and artist Diana Croft.
