CONWY Valley and North Wales Coast Community Rail Partnership has been highly commended at the national Community Rail Awards.

This was for its innovative work engaging communities with their railway at Conwy railway station.

The partnership took third place in the Involving Children and Young People award at the 19th national ceremony, organised by Community Rail Network.

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This year’s awards recognised a diverse array of projects across Britain and beyond, with 19 winners chosen from 180 entries, all demonstrating how the community rail movement builds positivity and awareness between people and their railways.

Conwy Railway Station Artwork Project was designed to connect young people to their railway, educating them on the dangers of trespassing, encouraging them to share rail safety messages through graffiti art and reduce antisocial behaviour.

Conwy railway station had been identified as a hotspot for trespass and anti-social behaviour.

Working in partnership with British Transport Police, Transport for Wales and graffiti artist Andy Birch, the partnership worked with the students from Ysgol Aberconwy to design and create two new art pieces, bringing the shelters into a vibrant and inspiring space.

The project was developed to encourage a sense of ownership and aimed to engage children in expressing their artistic abilities, while fostering a sense of civic pride and community involvement while reinforcing the importance of rail safety.

Karen Williams, community rail officer for the Conwy Valley and North Wales Coast Community Rail Partnership, said: “I have recently returned to the role of community rail officer and delighted that the project at Conwy came in the top three.

“It’s fantastic to work with local artists and local school children to highlight the important message of rail safety.

“This is the second project Ysgol Aberconwy have supported the community rail partnership with, and a big thanks goes to the pupils and staff that made this project happen.”