DfT accreditation award underlines CRP's high standards
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6 July 2020: The Department for Transport today confirmed that the Surrey Hills to South Downs Community Rail Partnership has achieved accreditation status.
It is the newest wholly South Western Railway funded CRP and only the second SWR CRP to achieve accreditation.
Accreditation is formal recognition by DfT that the community rail partnership operates to a high standard and that its objectives and activities are supported by Government, says Kulvinder Bassi, DfT's Community Rail Team Leader.
He says: "Accreditation should provide assurance to other, including potential funders and partners, that the CRP operates to high standards of governance and financial propriety, adopt a collaborative approach, is worthy of trust by others and is a suitable entity for receiving public funds. Further, Government considers it a good representative of the local community."
Surrey County Councillor Nikki Barton, who chairs the CRP's steering committee said: "I am delighted with this news from the DfT. Accreditation is a fanstastic achievement for the CRP, and I am very grateful to all those who have made it possible."
Through accreditation, the CRP is able to apply for grants from the Community Rail Development Fund to finance projects that further the aims of the partnership and its partners.
Daniel Wright, Support Officer at Community Rail Network, says: “It has been a real pleasure to watch Surrey Hills to South Downs CRP grow in capability and confidence over the last 12 months. Achieving 'accredited' status from the Department for Transport recognises both the good work done so far, and the high quality management of the CRP behind the scenes.
"With the recent appointment of a CRP line officer, and plenty of plans in the pipeline, we look forward to seeing what the next 12 months will bring. Connected by the thread of the railway line, the communities along the line will benefit enormously from the work of the CRP, especially in supporting them through Covid-19 recovery process.”
SWR’s Community Rail Manager, Andy Harrowell said: “We are really pleased to see this new CRP take such an important step forward and be accredited. It really is a positive reflection on those involved to have achieved this at such an early stage of their development. There’s a lot of passion for sustainable transport among the partners, especially to access the local beauty spots and attractions in the area and I look forward to working further with the CRP to support their plans, especially post pandemic.”
It is the newest wholly South Western Railway funded CRP and only the second SWR CRP to achieve accreditation.
Accreditation is formal recognition by DfT that the community rail partnership operates to a high standard and that its objectives and activities are supported by Government, says Kulvinder Bassi, DfT's Community Rail Team Leader.
He says: "Accreditation should provide assurance to other, including potential funders and partners, that the CRP operates to high standards of governance and financial propriety, adopt a collaborative approach, is worthy of trust by others and is a suitable entity for receiving public funds. Further, Government considers it a good representative of the local community."
Surrey County Councillor Nikki Barton, who chairs the CRP's steering committee said: "I am delighted with this news from the DfT. Accreditation is a fanstastic achievement for the CRP, and I am very grateful to all those who have made it possible."
Through accreditation, the CRP is able to apply for grants from the Community Rail Development Fund to finance projects that further the aims of the partnership and its partners.
Daniel Wright, Support Officer at Community Rail Network, says: “It has been a real pleasure to watch Surrey Hills to South Downs CRP grow in capability and confidence over the last 12 months. Achieving 'accredited' status from the Department for Transport recognises both the good work done so far, and the high quality management of the CRP behind the scenes.
"With the recent appointment of a CRP line officer, and plenty of plans in the pipeline, we look forward to seeing what the next 12 months will bring. Connected by the thread of the railway line, the communities along the line will benefit enormously from the work of the CRP, especially in supporting them through Covid-19 recovery process.”
SWR’s Community Rail Manager, Andy Harrowell said: “We are really pleased to see this new CRP take such an important step forward and be accredited. It really is a positive reflection on those involved to have achieved this at such an early stage of their development. There’s a lot of passion for sustainable transport among the partners, especially to access the local beauty spots and attractions in the area and I look forward to working further with the CRP to support their plans, especially post pandemic.”
- Earlier this year, Purbeck Community Rail Partnership was the first SWR CRP to achieve accreditation, but SWR also works with two other accredited CRPs where other train operators are the major funders. These are Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership (East Devon Line: Axminster to Pinhoe) and Sussex CRP (North Downs Line: Gatwick to Reading).