Better Transport

John Saunders and his group campaign for better walking, cycling and wheelchair routes to stations on the Peterborough-Ely-Norwich line. Here John shares his experiences and his top campaigning tips.

John became interested in improving station access when research in Lancashire in the 1990s found that poor routes to stations deter people from using trains. When Sustrans published plans on how to improve access to Peterborough station, leading to 52% of people in the area using trains at some time, he determined to work for similar improvements to other stations on the line.

"I like the idea of making train travel as easy as possible for as many people as possible."

"I like the idea of making train travel as easy as possible for as many people as possible," John says, and this view is shared by his group, Peterborough-Ely-Norwich Rail Users (PENRUG). Together they've worked hard, "Responding to consultations while remaining open-minded to all solutions". They've achieved a lot: "We have seen tremendous improvements in several places, especially in March and Thetford. Just recently, responding to a request from our members, Norfolk County Council  has sought a price for adding hand rails to the Thetford station footbridge to make it more user-friendly for children and the elderly."

There's still work to be done, however. John lists some unresolved problems:

• Traffic hazards for pedestrians entering Ely station from the street
• Less-than-perfect lighting along Attleborough Station Road
• No step-free access to Platform Two at Wymondham station
• A footbridge from Peterborough station which has a lift on one side, but only a slightly stepped ramp on the other

John's advice to anyone facing similar problems who wants to campaign for improvements is: "Sow the seeds. What a small user group can achieve on its own is minimal, so it's essential to develop the best possible relations with local authorities and train companies. Work with anyone who can deliver what you want."

Find out more about PENRUG or contact the group