EMR welcomes families to visit their Community Rail Ram in Derby this summer
Part of the Ram Trail running until 22nd August 2021.
Community Rail theme designed by local artist.
Ram design features visitor attractions along Derwent Valley and North Staffs CRPs.
| East Midlands Railway has teamed up with Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) from both Derwent Valley and North Staffordshire lines to sponsor a ram that is situated outside Derby station this summer as part of the Derby Ram Trail.
The Community Rail themed Ram will be situated outside Derby train station until 22nd August, meaning there’s still plenty of time to use our services to come and visit. EMR is encouraging visitors to discover the trail of rams across the city, a free, fun and safe activity for families to enjoy in the summer school holidays. The ram sculpture is based on the mythical Derby ram from the 18th Century song, which according to legend was ten yards high with enormous horns and a huge flowing fleece. The story tells how people came all over to see the huge Derby ram. Each ram has been designed and decorated by a different well-known or emerging artist. The EMR Ram has been designed by local artist, Holly Aspinall, she said: “The Railway Communities Ram shows the work of East Midlands Railway Community Rail. “The ram depicts visitor attractions near stations along the Derwent Valley and North Staffordshire Lines. Also represented are the teams of volunteer station adopters that help to look after each station. “Volunteering gives the opportunity to meet new people, to feel part of a community and to improve overall wellbeing and I have used fun, energetic shapes and bright colours to show this”. Donna Adams, Community Engagement Manager for EMR said: “There are many ways in which Community Rail benefits local communities, and we wanted our ram to represent this. “Our station adoption scheme not only helps tackle loneliness and improves the health and wellbeing of our volunteers, but wider Community Rail supports social development and tourism too. “We hope passengers travelling through Derby this summer will come and visit our Ram outside the station.” Claire Sandys, CRP Officer for North Staffordshire Line said: “The splendid Community Rail Ram represents the many places of interest within easy walking distance of our stations between Derby and Crewe, along with the activity of our wonderful volunteers. “During the summer, we hope that many Ram Trailers will travel to Derby by train.” Alastair Morley, CRP Officer for the Derwent Valley Line said: “Our communities, scenic countryside and fantastic destinations along the Derwent Valley Line have been wonderfully captured in our bright and colourful Community Rail Ram, that sits proudly at the front of Derby Station. “We hope people will be inspired to travel this summer and experience a trip on the scenic Derwent Valley Line.” Jenny Cuadrado, Derby Museums’ Head of Fundraising said: “We are thrilled to be working with East Midlands Railway on the project, both helping showcase some of the fantastic attractions easily accessible along our local train network and also helping promote a greener way of travelling into the city once it is safe for our visitors to do so. The EMR ram will also be positioned in a prime location at the train station, encouraging even more city visitors and local residents to enjoy the trail.” |