The Cambrian Railway Partnership has awarded almost £7,000 in grants to community organisations along the line.
The partnership’s Railway 200 Community Grant Fund supports projects that celebrate heritage, creativity and sustainable travel along the Cambrian Line.
Seventeen grants have been awarded to a range of imaginative community-led initiatives.
They include a sustainable train-themed garden in Caersws designed to honour the work and gardens that station masters used to create and the production and screening of a film about Sir Pryce Pryce-Jones, pioneering Newtown entrepreneur, to form part of a legacy exhibition.
A series of Welsh language guided walks along the Cambrian Coast, using the railway as a sustainable mode of transport to or from the destination, is also supported.
Neil Scott, Cambrian Railway Partnership chair, said:
“We're delighted to be supporting some inspiring and exciting community projects as we celebrate 200 years of railway travel.
“The partnership, in conjunction with Transport for Wales, has enabled community groups across the Cambrian Line to explore the connection between their communities and the railway.
“Railway 200 offers us all the opportunity to celebrate the birth of modern railway travel and we're pleased to support groups with their projects.”
Melanie Lawton, Transport for Wales community rail strategic lead, said:
“This year we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the modern railway across the rail network.
“This grant will connect communities to their railways bringing friends, families and communities together to deliver a vast range of projects and innovation together.”
Clair Swales, Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO) chief executive, said:
“We are delighted to deliver this grant scheme with the Cambrian Railway Partnership and look forward to seeing the impact of the funding along the line.”
Deb Justice, partnership development officer, said:
“I am excited to see the diverse range of projects supported by our Railway 200 Grant. It is particularly encouraging that these initiatives span communities along both the Cambrian Main Line and Coast Line.”
The partnership also announced that a second round of the Railway 200 Community Grant Fund is now open. Applications are invited from community organisations, charities and CICs, located within six miles of a railway station on the Cambrian Line, for grants that celebrate railway history and contribute to community development.
The application deadline is 10am on Monday, October 13 and previous successful applicants are not eligible to apply in this round.
Administered by PAVO, the grant fund is delivered in partnership with Ceredigion Association of Voluntary Organisations, Mantell Gwynedd, Community Resource Shropshire and PAVO.
Through its Challenge Fund and as part of their commitment to community rail, Transport for Wales has provided half the money towards the total grant pot.
Those wishing to discuss project ideas are asked to contact deb.justice@pavo.org.uk or visit the partnership website www.thecambrianline.co.uk/news.
