The chair of the Clitheroe Line and East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership is handing over her role after a 'challenging' and busy year in the area.

Melanie Taylor is handing over the chair to Lancashire County Council’s Rail development manager Mike Cliffe, but will remain involved in the county’s rail in her new role as group leader for Public Transport at Blackpool Council.

In the past year, Lancashire’s five community rail partnerships delivered 21 community-based projects with a value of almost £340,000 involving Northern Trains, Avanti, TransPennine Express, the Community Rail Network and the Department for Transport.

Projects have included schemes like Making Connections – an initiative to engage young people with public transport to tackle loneliness alongside grassroots campaigns like Spotlight on Stations designed to bring TLC to local stations by tending to flower tubs, picking litter, sweeping the station and ensuring all signage is in place.

Melanie said: “It’s been a real privilege to be part of a wonderfully dedicated team – both internally as part of the CRL team and working with invaluable stakeholder colleagues, volunteers and organisations.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed getting involved in projects like making the Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth film and raising awareness of the pioneering Dick Kerr Ladies as England’s Lionesses triumphed at Euro 2022.

“I wish the new Chair all the very best in their new role and I hope they enjoy it as much as I did.”

Community Rail Lancashire chair Richard Watts said: “I’d like to thank Melanie for her enthusiasm and outstanding leadership during her time as chair of the Clitheroe Line and East Lancashire Community Rail Partnerships.

“I am delighted that she will remain a director of CRL and look forward to welcoming her as the Blackpool Council representative on the South Fylde Line CRP.”

Chris Jackson, regional director of Northern Trains, reflected on a challenging year for the area’s rail services.

Chris acknowledged the problems posed by ongoing industrial relations issues, but said the introduction of the new timetable in December 2022 had improved reliability and seen passenger numbers continuing to grow in the wake of the pandemic.

Highlighting the introduction of new four-carriage trains on the Clitheroe Line, Chris said Northern had recruited and trained an additional 69 train drivers to address staffing issues and would continue to invest in more modern rolling stock.

Chris said: “We’re passionate about supporting the region, helping local businesses to thrive and residents get from A to B. Of the 3,000 additional services Northern introduced into its network-wide timetable in December, 2,000 of them were here in the North West.

"Our mission remains to make a positive impact for the North in all we do and for all we serve.”