- Paston Sixth Form College synchronises timetable with National Express to make it easier for students to travel by train
- First Sixth Form College in UK to commit to this type of sponsorship deal
- North Walsham station signs to celebrate College unveiled 11am, March 5th
- Students and VIPs gather for event – photo opportunities
“This will make my day so much better,” Barney Robinson, student, living in Norwich.
"It’s perfect for me," Becca Crow, a student from Worstead.
"A marvellous initiative," Shelagh Hutson, Norfolk CC cabinet member for Children’s Services.
Paston Sixth Form College and National Express have been working together to make it easier for students from Norwich and North Norfolk to get to the College on time using the Bittern Line train service. As a ‘sign’ of this partnership, at 11.00am on Friday 5th March smart new station signs at North Walsham station will be unveiled, bearing the message: ‘North Walsham – Home of Paston Sixth Form College.’
It’s the first time that a UK Sixth Form College has ‘sponsored’ their local railway station in this way and underlines Paston’s commitment to promoting green, sustainable transport to its students.
Amongst those invited and likely to attend the event at
North Walsham Railway Station, 11.00am on Friday 5th of March are:
Shelagh Hutson, NCC cabinet member for Children’s Services
Sheila Gadsden, Mayor of North Walsham
Simon Partridge, Chair of NNDC
Mr Ted Gadsden, Chairman of the Bittern Line Partnership
Ian Dinmore, Community Rail Officer, Norfolk CC
Diana Clarke, Chair of the Griffon Area Partnership
Rebecca Chamberlain, Student President, Paston College
Francis Harmer, Chair of Governors, Paston College
Directors from National Express East Anglia
James Steward, Area Manager – Rural Routes, National Express East Anglia
Peter Mayne, Principal, Paston Sixth Form College
Refreshments will be served after the event in the Nelson Room, Paston Sixth Form College
College Principal Peter Mayne explains: "A lot more students are coming to us from the Norwich area. As part of our transport policy and we are keen to make travel to the College as easy as possible for them, and also for students from across North East Norfolk, whether by rail or bus. However, one issue has been the train timetable – in order for students to get to College in time for the start of day they’ve had to catch a train arriving an hour before classes begin."
But no longer: as of September 2010, the College day will officially start at 09.05. This allows students to catch later trains, that arrive at North Walsham just over ten minutes before classes begin – giving them plenty of time to walk safely to the College.
For example, a student can get a train from Norwich at 08.23, or Wroxham at 08:38, and arrive in North Walsham 08.51. Similarly, a student from Sheringham can catch the 08.25 Bittern Line train (or from Cromer the 08:36) and be in North Walsham station at 08.53.
"Paston’s academic success in recent years has meant that students are coming from further and further afield," says Peter Mayne. "Transport is a key issue. Synchronising the College day with the train timetables has taken a lot of careful planning, but it will be a major benefit." For example, a student from as far away as Wymondham can catch a local train at 07.50 and be in North Walsham in time for College.
Obviously it’s vital that students can rely on the trains – luckily for them, the Bittern Line is the region’s most punctual service, with 96% of trains on time.
"The Bittern Line is a vital lifeline for people in the area," says James Steward, area manager on rural routes for National Express East Anglia. "We’re delighted to be involved with the local community in a project like this, which makes it easier for travellers to access the trains. We’re also very pleased to be able to assist Paston and play a part in its promotion of green transport."
For more information about Paston College, visit www.paston.ac.uk or call 01692 402334.
For information on the Bittern Line, visit www.bitternline.com
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Students are delighted that the College’s start time moves to 09.05 from September enabling them to catch trains an hour later. Here’s what some of them think:
"Brilliant news – it’ll make a huge difference and make travelling by train even more attractive," Bradley Starkings from Wroxham.
"This is will make my day so much better. I will be able to catch the train an hour later – which means not having to get up quite so early!" Barney Robinson, Norwich.
Becky Self cycles to the station and then travels by train to North Walsham as the station is nearer than the bus stop. "It’s really convenient," she says. "Next year it will be even better."
"It’s perfect for me, it’ll save an hour in the morning," says Becca Crow, a student from Worstead.
"Travel by train is great – it’s a reliable and frequent service," Samuel Thorpe, Salhouse.
Katharine Powell from Worstead, likes the flexibility of being able to travel on services throughout the day – "It’s useful when I have a late start or an early finish."
Jacob Rix, who lives in Sheringham, likes coming to College by train – "It’s fast and direct, plus I can use my pass throughout the day and at weekends and in the evenings – a real bonus." Jacob also says that he can work on the train.