Train -based tourism
in the age of the satnav
This project aims to create a fresh seamless travel experience using the new hourly High Speed train service around the Kent Coast .
With our help, the service will attract a whole new class of visitors, and really deliver badly needed jobs to our coastal towns.
With our help, the service will attract a whole new class of visitors, and really deliver badly needed jobs to our coastal towns.
We will learn from...
The Settle & Carlisle Railway
When this iconic railway line was saved, local people set up a voluntary Development Company that works to promote the line. It has raised millions of pounds for development projects to improve station facilities, run catering services on stations and trains, publish leaflets, and seek group tour bookings.
Can a voluntary sector group help run a real railway?
The success of the Settle & Carlisle in raising passenger numbers and securing economic viability for the rail line and the area it serves shows what can be done. We'll visit the line and see just how they work with the franchise operator, Northern Rail.
The success of the Settle & Carlisle in raising passenger numbers and securing economic viability for the rail line and the area it serves shows what can be done. We'll visit the line and see just how they work with the franchise operator, Northern Rail.
The Hastings line trolley co-op experiment
Our project proposes an innovative on-train service hosted by "Kent Coast Greeters".
They will act as mobile Tourist Information points, giving passengers leaflets helpful directions and suggestions for a great day out - as well as showcasing the best of Kent Coast's food and drink, which will be prepared in a local base for sandwich-making, etc.
Unfortunately, the Hastings co-op had to close after 18 months; we'll talk to those involved to learn the lessons for long-term viabilty.
They will act as mobile Tourist Information points, giving passengers leaflets helpful directions and suggestions for a great day out - as well as showcasing the best of Kent Coast's food and drink, which will be prepared in a local base for sandwich-making, etc.
Unfortunately, the Hastings co-op had to close after 18 months; we'll talk to those involved to learn the lessons for long-term viabilty.
The Morecambe Bay Project
We'll visit the Morecambe Bay Project to find out how such a small core team can use a partnership approach to leverage such a big impact in their area. We'll particularly look for how such a project is made sustainable, delivering a series of different mini-projects where the whole becomes bigger than the sum of the parts.
Fresh insights and research from our local university
We have already been working in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University to explore how postgraduate interns and study placements can contribute, with supervision from academic experts, to help steer local businesses in the right directions to exploit new opportunities offered by the High Speed coastal loop.
Building audiences for local cultural venues
Theatres, cinemas, arts venues and galleries in small coastal towns struggle to achieve viability with a limited local catchment area. The regular evening hourly High Speed rail service around the coast at weekends until late will transform the potential for nights out in neighbouring coastal towns - or from London
We'll design a coastal towns booking and publicity service to build audiences from around the loop.
Finding where to go
Great new places, like the Chequers Restaurant and Cookery School by the Golf Course in the Sandhills just north of Deal, are just waiting to be discovered by visitors from London, or staying around the coast.
But if they're coming by train, how do they cover the final mile to get to their destination from the nearest station? A key part of this project will be addressing the "final mile problem" - so visitors know just where to go, and are offered every practical help to explore out from the station. |
Attracting special tours
The world-famous Orient Express train already makes frequent "Discover Deal" excursions.
Founders of Deal station’s new café ‘Platform 1’, Nick and Andy Stevens said:“Following the fantastic welcome hundreds of local people have given Orient Express passengers on previous ‘Discover Deal’ visits, we are delighted to welcome back the train and guests for the third time this year. Once again the famous train’s visit to Deal presents a unique opportunity to showcase the town and create the best of impressions for many visitors whom we hope will return to experience and enjoy what the town has to offer.”
“As well as directing visitors to Deal’s popular town centre establishments and attractions during their two hour stay, the retro style design and theme of our ‘Platform 1’ café is very much in keeping with the history of the world’s most prestigious train and the glorious era of luxury travel the train itself evokes and we look forward to welcoming new visitors to our café and Deal itself.”
They see this as an ideal prototype for using special rail tours and charters to bring more visitors to the Kent coastal towns - just as has been done on the Settle & Carlisle line.
Founders of Deal station’s new café ‘Platform 1’, Nick and Andy Stevens said:“Following the fantastic welcome hundreds of local people have given Orient Express passengers on previous ‘Discover Deal’ visits, we are delighted to welcome back the train and guests for the third time this year. Once again the famous train’s visit to Deal presents a unique opportunity to showcase the town and create the best of impressions for many visitors whom we hope will return to experience and enjoy what the town has to offer.”
“As well as directing visitors to Deal’s popular town centre establishments and attractions during their two hour stay, the retro style design and theme of our ‘Platform 1’ café is very much in keeping with the history of the world’s most prestigious train and the glorious era of luxury travel the train itself evokes and we look forward to welcoming new visitors to our café and Deal itself.”
They see this as an ideal prototype for using special rail tours and charters to bring more visitors to the Kent coastal towns - just as has been done on the Settle & Carlisle line.