Books & Publications

Publications, Trails and Resources: 21 Years of Community Rail Storytelling

Since its formation in 2005, the Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership has used publications, interpretation, artwork and educational resources to connect people with their railway, encourage sustainable travel and celebrate the Island's communities. Over the past 21 years, we have produced a wide range of printed and digital materials that have informed, inspired and engaged residents and visitors alike.

Sandown Rail Trail – Our First Major Publication

One of the Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership's first flagship projects was the Sandown Rail Trail, launched in 2006.

Working with children from Bay Primary School, the project invited pupils to enter a competition called "Sandown My Town". Children created artwork inspired by their local area, with ten winning designs selected to become permanent glass way markers between Sandown Station and the town centre.

The markers were beautifully crafted by Glory Art Glass and installed as colourful glass bricks along the route, helping visitors find their way while showcasing local creativity. New street furniture and directional signage were installed to guide visitors to the town centre and key attractions, while map boards at both the station and town centre illustrated the route.

To accompany the trail, the CRP produced a printed guide which was distributed at stations and visitor locations. The publication encouraged visitors arriving by train to explore Sandown on foot and discover the unique artwork created by local children along the way.

The Sandown Rail Trail set the standard for many of the community-led projects that would follow.

Encouraging Exploration by Rail

Over the years, the CRP has produced a variety of publications designed to encourage visitors and residents to discover the Island by public transport.

Rail Ale Trails

These popular guides combined rail travel with visits to local pubs, helping support local businesses while promoting sustainable tourism.

Walks from Rails

A collection of walking routes linked directly to railway stations, encouraging healthy lifestyles and helping people explore the Island's countryside, coastline and heritage without the need for a car.

Journey Maps and Information Boards

The CRP developed a series of "My Journey" map boards and publications showing the Island's integrated transport network. These resources highlighted rail, bus and ferry connections alongside attractions, helping people understand how easily destinations across the Isle of Wight can be reached using public transport.

Giving Young People a Voice

Young people have always been at the heart of Community Rail activities on the Isle of Wight.

Community Kids Book

Working with The Bay School in Sandown, pupils documented their experiences of working with the Community Rail Partnership through writing, artwork and photographs. Their stories were brought together in a professionally published book, creating a lasting record of their achievements and demonstrating the impact of community rail projects on young people.

TravelSafe Resources

The TravelSafe programme produced a series of wallet cards and educational materials supporting three safety films covering rail, bus and ferry travel. These resources helped students understand how to travel confidently and safely while promoting independent travel skills and awareness around transport environments.

007 Community Rail Publication

Students from Sandown Bay Academy produced a glossy publication showcasing the wide range of Community Rail projects they had been involved in. The publication celebrated partnership working, youth engagement and the positive impact that community rail activities were having across the Island.

Working in Partnership

Community Rail has always been about collaboration.

The Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership has worked closely with neighbouring Community Rail Partnerships, particularly the New Forest Community Rail Partnership. Joint publications have highlighted how partnerships can work together across regions to share knowledge, deliver projects and improve travel experiences for local communities.

The Squirrel's Tale

One of our most imaginative publications was The Squirrel's Tale, a children's story inspired by the Isle of Wight's famous Red Squirrel population.

The story follows a group of Grey Squirrels attempting to invade the Island, only to be met by determined Red Squirrels working with the Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership to protect their home. Combining environmental education with storytelling, the book introduced children to conservation issues in a fun and engaging way while promoting travel and exploration across the Island.

Supporting Showcase Events

Publications have also played an important role in supporting major Community Rail events and films and exhibitions.

These have included:

Each project used printed materials, guides, exhibition resources and promotional publications to engage audiences through exhibitions and films, celebrate community achievements and showcase the value of Community Rail.

Looking to the Future

While printed publications have been at the heart of our work for more than two decades, the way people access information continues to evolve.

Today, the Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership increasingly uses digital resources, QR codes, online guides and dedicated landing pages to provide information in more sustainable and accessible ways. These tools allow us to reach wider audiences while reducing printing costs and environmental impact.

However, our commitment remains unchanged: helping people discover their railway, their communities and their Island.

From the Sandown Rail Trail in 2006 to today's digital storytelling projects, our publications and resources have helped thousands of people explore, learn and connect through Community Rail.

Twenty-one years on, we are proud of what has been achieved and excited about the stories still to be told.