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Tuesday 10 Oct 2023

Scotland’s Railway cements partnership with Stenhouse Primary School

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Scotland’s Railway has officially launched a partnership between Stenhouse Primary School and their Edinburgh Maintenance Base.

During a launch event to officially announce the new partnership with the Edinburgh based school, Scotland’s Railway handed over 23 reconditioned bikes for pupils to use. These were accompanied by accessories for each of the bikes, kindly donated by Story Contracting.

It follows on from work carried out by the off-track maintenance team from the Edinburgh Maintenance Base over the summer to construct an outdoor learning and play space at the school.

Pupils also received a rail safety talk to learn more about the dangers of the railway with the school being so close to the track.

The community partnership was forged with the maintenance base after a pilot scheme had proved so beneficial last year between the Glasgow Delivery Unit and St Roch’s Primary School in Glasgow.

The Edinburgh team were given the opportunity to vote for a school local to their base to receive the partnership and Stenhouse Primary was nominated.

Stephen Crosbie, head of maintenance delivery for Scotland’s Railway, said: We’re thrilled to be formalising the community partnership with Stenhouse Primary School after they were so deservedly chosen by our colleagues.

“We are grateful to the many people in the school community and our Scotland’s Railway colleagues who have been pivotal in building the relationship up until now.

“We are confident that the partnership will create exciting opportunities in the coming months and we are looking at the different ways we can offer support to the pupils, the school and the wider community now and in the future.”

Emma Collier, acting principal teacher at Stenhouse Primary School, said: “The partnership with Network Rail is giving our children opportunities to enjoy the outdoors through creative means with the fabulous handyman skills that the team have as well as ensuring we are keeping our young people safe through the rail safety advice they can offer us.”

Graeme McInnes, engineering director at Story Contracting said: “To be part of today's partnership launch with Stenhouse Primary School was not only highly rewarding but also inspiring.

"As an organisation that holds 'family' as a core value, witnessing firsthand the positive impact we can have on the community when we collaborate as Scotland's Railway is fantastic.”

The community partnership will provide an opportunity to promote safety around the railway.

It will also enable young people to participate in STEM activities while encouraging them to learn more about technology and engineering and to think about the possibilities beyond their school years.

Scotland’s Railway staff will volunteer their time and expertise to support the school community with practical skills and assistance. The next task will be to repaint part of the playground wall and do some internal maintenance of the 1930s building.