We're the Community Rail Partnership proudly serving the Marston Vale (Bedford to Bletchley) Line. Our aim's to let you know what's going on on your local line!
Today is a big day. For the first time in nearly a year passenger trains return to the line. A limited service hopefully only until January when a full service resumes. Tag us into pictures/videos you take over the next couple of days and we will retweet.
#ReturnOfTheTrain
Yesterday we had a look over the Class 150s that are set to return to the line this month. They have wheelslip protection with which the ones we used to have weren’t equipped with. Accessible toilet and dedicated space for cycles, wheelchairs and pushchairs and USB charging
👀 Some news. After what I think is 445 days, a full service is planned to resume on our line from Monday, 19 February. Very excited and means during half term families will have opportunity to get back on our line. And to our loyal passengers thanks for sticking with us
Some good news. TRAINS ARE RETURNING TO THE VALE! 9 trains per day will be back supplemented by buses in the morning and late evening from Monday, 14 February
One of the trains on the line is going to be named. Can you think of a name? If so complete the form in the link. Personally I like the sound of "Chug 1", but I think I might be on my own there... Entries close on 4 March. Pics courtesy of
@801rail
Our first new train arriving into its new home. We hope that maintaining these new trains at Bletchley will significantly improve reliability on the line. Do you look at and snap the train testing on the line in the coming weeks
The news we've all been waiting for. A full timetable resumes Monday, 16 May. This is the first time we will have had a full service on the line in 2.5 years! Spread the word...
Want to get out and about over Easter. Good news is there is a service every day apart from Sunday. On Good Friday and Easter Monday a weekday service will run. Please note there is no service on the West Coast Mainline south of MK over Easter. Pics thanks to
@801rail
One of my favourite pictures of the line from a few years back to celebrate
#LoveMK
day. With the warmer nights on their way, get out and explore the line, and if the weather turns there is even the odd local hostelry like the Red Lion just behind where this picture was taken.
A little late in the day but here's an entry for
#WindowWednesday
. For those that don't know this is where the line cross the Grand Union Canal at Fenny Stratford
Credit where it's due,
@networkrailWCML
removed, and found a replacement barrier pretty quickly. A good job by the maintenance teams, as you can see the old barrier got pretty mangled 👏
Please see an update from the train operator regarding the resumption of train services. In summary there will be a limited operation of 4 return journey services (Mon to Fri) until more drivers are trained. No exact date yet, just November.
Good to see a limited rail service coming back to the line from Monday, 20 November. Buses will still fill in the gaps. Passengers will be able to rediscover the good work we do at stations. Yesterday the Environmental Committee of Swallowfield Primary were planting winter bulbs
We're pleased to confirm that trains will return to our
#MarstonVale
line from 20.11.23, with a full timetable expected to operate early in the new year. We'd again like to thank local communities for their patience during recent months.
Full details👉
A rare opportunity has arisen to lease office space on the first floor at Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre, ideal for a start-up business! In addition to the easy rail access, the building is just a few minutes from M1 Junction 13. Do get in touch if interested.
A very Merry Christmas to all of you from us at the Community Rail Partnership. Hope you all have a fantastic break. Let's hope for the full train service to resume early in the New Year. These trains look familiar?
Test train runs have started to run this week, following the level crossing issues on the line this year. Unfortunately we don't have a date for the resumption of train services yet. Picture by Kirsty Holmes of a 230 passing Stewartby on Monday
We're delighted that we've been reaccredited by the Department for Transport (DfT) following a review!
Accreditation is formal recognition by the DfT that a Community Rail Partnership operates to a high standard and that its objectives and activities are supported by Government
Here is a breakdown of the next week due to upcoming Industrial Action.
Wednesday, 3 April - 🚄
Thurs, 4 April - 🚌
Fri, 5 April - ❌
Sat, 6 April - 🚌
Mon, 8 April - 🚌
Tues, 9 April - 🚌
Wed, 10 April - 🚄
Bus times are on the Journey Planners (same as old full bus timetable)
Did you know that ticket machines are (finally) now working at stations along the line? They take card payments, and you can also collect tickets bought online at them too
Huge congratulations to our
@LNRailway
team for winning both 1st and 3rd place in the
#CRA18
Photo and Video Competition / ‘Community Rail in Action’ photo category!
@HighSpeed_H
@RAIL
Just seen this. Really sad news. After the initial teething trouble these trains have been great for the line. In fact I would go to say they are perfect for rural branch lines
Oh look! Shiny new Chug coming soon (December) to a Marston Vale Station near you. You might see them out and about in the coming months undergoing driver training too.
It's been good to see some of our Friends groups getting back out there any attending to theirs stations. Last weekend the Friends of Fenny Stratford were smartening up their station.
Some good news train service wise. From Monday, 13 December the service will increase by 3 trains per day on the line reducing the reliance on buses. This includes Saturday too meaning there is a block of trains timetabled each afternoon.
Work is progressing well behind the scenes to bring trains back to the
#MarstonVale
line.
With training for our maintenance team nearing an end, we are looking ahead to familiarisation for our drivers & conductors starting very soon.
Latest updates 👉
Totally agree with your sentiment here Callum, and has been encouraging to see passengers agreeing with good passenger numbers since services have returned...
It was good to get out on the line on Saturday and actually travel by train for the first time since March. Although there is not a full service currently, at least there are alternate trains on Saturdays so a day out can be planned.
We were delighted to unveil this unique stunning bench in memory of Captain Sir Tom Moore at Millbrook Station a few weeks ago! It was a real privilege to have Captain Tom's daughter, Hannah, with us to unveil this lovely looking seat. Don't you think it looks great?
We don't like to show off, but check out what is most definitely the tallest Sunflower on the Marston Vale Line, courtesy of the Friends of Woburn Sands Station and students of Swallowfield Primary School 🌻
A welcome return to an old friend. The 0718
@marstonvalecrp
@LNRailway
waiting to depart Bletchley on the first passenger train in 2023. Let's hope the full service resumes soon on this forgotten railway
The award winning Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre Tea Room has reopened for takeaways and deliveries.
Just call 07512 619162 by 15:00 the day before required, and the Tea Room staff will do the rest! Deliveries are being made within the local area (Woburn Sands & M Moreteine)
Great day at Bedford last week, our hard working team from
@transportgovuk
Careers and
@academyltfc
painted & planted new planters in & around the station & cleared a very overgrown area of land too! Thanks also to
@TLRailUK
&
@BSACCRP
. If you'd like to help here do get in touch
Today marks the start of the 175th anniversary year of the
@marstonvalecrp
opening. After a plaque unveiling by Chris Green at Bletchley station, it's all aboard the train for a trip and goodies along the line to Bedford.
#CommunityRail
@LNRailway
@Vivarail
Super proud of our station adopters at Fenny Stratford. After their hanging boxes were vandalised by mindless idiots a few weeks ago it has not deterred them. They have been repaired them, and are now looking tip top again. 👏 👏 👏
Our terminus at Bletchley looking like an important railway junction over 100 years ago. Hopefully it will again in the next few years with the arrival of
@eastwestrail
Who else thinks these look pretty smart?
@SW_Help
C.484001 arriving into Shanklin with a test run from Ryde St John's Road earlier today.
Not much longer until the Class 483, 82-year-old trains turn their final wheel.
Photo: James Pilbeam ^Cameron
We are on our way to the
@CommunityRail
Awards in Southampton today. Our station bench honouring local hero Captain Sir Tom Moore’s Legacy at Millbrook Station has been nominated for a Community Creative Projects and Station Arts award. Wish us luck!
This photo from 1930 is of the original Bedford St. Johns Station, after the R101 airship tradically crashed in France on its way to India. 48 people died. Their bodies were bought back home to Bedford by train. St. Johns Station being the nearest station to the airship sheds
Some pictures of the
@Vivarail
#Class230
under test on the Marston Vale. Look out for it coming to a station near you. Thanks to Richard Crane for the pics
Thanks to Toby for these pictures of our next new chug (2 of 3 now delivered) making its way up to Bletchley. Also for the first time I think, take a look at the thread for a sneak peak at the interior, can’t wait!
We're so back!
Today marks the return of the full timetable to the
@marstonvalecrp
. So the mission is to tick off all the stations on the line, starting with the walk over the Ouse from Bedford to tick off Bedford St. Johns ✅
Secretly there are now 2 x Class 230s operating both circuits on the line. Look at this themed convenience, on one of the most recently introduced trains
Ahead of trains returning to the Vale on Monday please check the link for train times. 9 trains a day with the rest made up by buses. This is the timetable till May
A new addition at one of our stations is this
@SanCyclesMK
Hire Point where you can continue or complete your journey when using our line at Woburn Sands. A great addition to the town as well as the station and journeys from just £1
Some good news. A limited train service is back from Monday, 12 April! Albeit a limited service with buses plugging the gaps. Details here . There is planned to be a further uplift of PM services from Monday, 17 May.
Details of train times are available in the link. . Apart from College times this timetable was designed to fully connect with the mainline, primarily a clockface timetable. And what could be better, but a £1 (or less) fare offer to get you back onboard!
A slightly odd angle today for our
#WindowWednesday
contribution with a view of one of the lovely murals on the line, this one from Lidlington, pictured is one of our previous trains. Do you recognise the livery?
We were delighted to have a local presentation from
@watfordgap
for our wins at the
@ACoRPOffice
Community Rail Awards. Our CRP Officer Stephen Sleight was handed over the winners trophy. The photographer of the winning picture (far right) was
@Andy__Buckley
So you may be woundering why the visit to Woburn Sands today…well I’ve been working on something for the Friends of Woburn Sands Station (C/o
@rwjc22
) on the
@LNRailway
@marstonvalecrp
Bletchley to Bedford route...
Ay-up! Missing the old chugs? They have moved up North. Here is one pictured at Manchester Victoria. Have also been seen at Leeds among other places. Feel free to reply to this tweet with pictures where you have seen them
Recently our Station Adopters have enhanced an area of Woburn Sands Station near Platform 2 and gained the help of the
@bee_trust
to install some Bee Friendly Planters