Could you be one of 300 stitchers creating a community tapestry in Worcestershire?

A call for volunteer stitchers to create two 11.5m long Community Artworks featuring trains is being made by the Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership.

Stitch Train Worcestershire will create 18 tapestry train artworks for display at stations in Worcestershire during the autumn. After display, all the trains will be linked together to form two massive trains – each 11.5m long – to be exhibited in the first instance at the Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership Anniversary event in November.

Each volunteer will be sent a free kit in the post with all that is needed to create one of the individual tapestry pieces which will be combined to form first the station artwork and then the full trains. The trains featured will be the new Class 196 units being introduced by West Midlands Railway on services in Worcestershire later this year, and the GWR Intercity Express Trains which now run on the Cotswold Line. Full instructions are included.

Finished tapestries need to be returned by Friday 4th September. More information can be found on the Stitch Train Worcestershire page of the Partnership’s web site https://wcrp.org.uk/stitchtrain/

Peter Chapman of Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership said: “Thanks to funding from the Community Rail Network the Partnership has a wonderful opportunity to brighten up the County’s stations by involving those who use them. I can’t wait to see the completed trains.”

Paul Webster of the Community Rail Network added: “The Network is glad to have been able to support the project. We are always happy to be actively involved in the work of our CRPs. Seems to me to be an ideal lockdown activity.”

Brenda Lawrence, head of stations for West Midlands Railway, said: “We take great pride in making our stations a colourful and welcoming environment for our customers.

“This innovative idea from the Community Rail Partnership offers a great way for our passengers to get involved in brightening up their local station from the comfort of their homes.

“It is also a fantastic way to celebrate the much-anticipated arrival of our smart new diesel trains and we look forward to seeing the results later this year.”

Photo credit: Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership

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