Customer and Community Investment Fund

At TransPennine Express, we work to a simple vision, Taking the North Further. This doesn't just mean transporting you from A to B across the North of England and into Scotland; it's also about delivering a service that connects communities, enabling them to thrive.

As part of FirstGroup, we also share their vision to provide solutions for an increasingly congested world, keeping people moving and communities prospering.
We're investing £500 million in three new fleets of Nova trains, which will be hitting the tracks in 2018 and 2019. We’ve also spent over £27 million improving our stations, with new retail facilities, new waiting rooms, First Class lounges, automatic ticket gates, customer information screens and cycle parking. But we’re not stopping there.

We’re delighted to launch our Customer and Community Improvement Fund (CCIF) as the next round of investment in our railway. Over the next four years we will provide up to £2.8 million to support schemes across our network and in the communities we serve to improve the experience for our customers.

Using feedback from customers received through our ‘Meet the Manager’ programme, forums and surveys, we’ve already identified some potential CCIF schemes, but we want to hear from you about projects within the community which we can support through this fund.

What we’re looking for

Station Enhancements

Improvements to a train station that would benefit the local community and regular users of the railway

On Board Experience

Enhancements which provide an improved on-board experience, enabling a seamless and enjoyable journey across the network and beyond.

Access to the railway

Improvements to links between the station and the community, encouraging walking, cycling and travel to and from the station by sustainable means.

Inclusion

Enabling travel by groups who may feel unable to or lack confidence using train services as part of their day to day life, reducing social exclusion through improved accessibility and information about the help available.

Schemes should be located at stations or in communities along the routes served by TransPennine Express. You can check out our route map here.

What we’re not looking for

• Projects which require ongoing funding commitments

• Projects with the potential to generate a commercial return

• Feasibility studies into the potential for new stations and services

How to Apply

We have put together a handy guide with more information about the Fund and to support your application. Download the CCIF Guide.

All applications should be made through this online form. 

We recommend that you save your application in a Word Document and paste into the form as you can't save changes as you go along.

Timeline

• Applications Open: 27/09/2018
  

• Applications Close: 11/11/2018 (at 23:59)
  

• Review: November 2018 to March 2019
  

• Applications will be reviewed and submitted to Rail North for final approval.
  

• Notification: April 2019
  

• Applicants will be notified of success and be required to commence delivery of their scheme.

Contact

If you would like to contact us to discuss your scheme, or for support completing your application, please email us at TPE.Community@FirstGroup.com and one of the team will be happy to help.