A succesful bid into the Designated Line Community Rail Development Fund means that 156464 the unit recently named ‘Lancashire DalesRail’ will now have a vinyl ‘wrap’ applied. The Clitheroe Line Community Rail Partnership working with Northern Rail and the Lancashire Rail Ramblers will work up an innovative design to promote DalesRail to those wanting to do short introductory walks rather than the perceived idea that dalesRail is only for the ‘serious’ walker. 

The Clitheroe Line and East Lancashire CRPs have already been working with local councils, the National Health Service and the Rail Ramblers to encourage those on ‘Stepping Out’ and ‘Walking for Health’ programmes to move up to slightly longer guided walks and it is hoped that with a ‘wrap’ themed around ’Stepping out with DalesRail’ and a series of shorter walks off the second DalesRail service will see new regulars using the service.

As well as the specially designed wrap the partnerships are also looking at other innovative ways to get the message across and this may involve using doctor’s surgeries and health centres to promote walking as part of a healthy life style.

The Designated Line Community Rail Development Fund is supported by the Department for Transport, Network Rail and the  Association of Community Rail Partnerships.