The Shakespeare Express

and a “replicable business model that subsequent groups can benefit from”.

Alister Scott, chair of Cuckmere Community Solar, said, “The organisation is pleased that this government funding will allow us to get the solar farm built at last. By connecting community-owned sites to the rail network, Riding Sunbeams can inspire rail users to travel in a really low carbon way with a genuine sense of ownership over the solution”.

To secure the funding Riding Sunbeams had to prove that building the solar farm would provide key local and national benefits, showing how up to 40 green jobs would be created over the project's 25-year lifetime, how the resilience of the local electricity network would be boosted, and how projected annual carbon savings of over 820 tonnes could be achieved.

Ollie Pendered, executive director of Riding Sunbeams, said, “The organisation’s vision is to power trains with commercially priced and unsubsidised energy with a positive social impact and securing the Getting Building Fund grant is a huge win”.

The solar farm – which is in Berwick, north of the Eastbourne-London mainline railway - is expected to start supplying power to the local railway network by March 2022. After completion, Cuckmere Community Solar will launch an investment offer so the project can be owned by local community members and rail commuters who use the network.

When looking ahead to Riding Sunbeams’ next move, Pendered said the goal was to be working with Network Rail “across the whole of the UK” to facilitate renewables being connected to the railways.

The company is already working closely with Network Rail and has spent a lot of time helping it to form its decarbonisation strategy, which includes both the electrification of railways as well as hydrogen trains.

Riding Sunbeams Looking for Another Award

Riding Sunbeams has been longlisted for a prestigious Ashden Award for climate innovation in the UK. The Company is one of 38 that has been longlisted for the 2021 Ashden Awards.

Ashden is a UK charity that has been supporting transformative climate solutions. Ashden’s CEO Harriet Lamb said: “The Ashden Awards focus on cutting-edge initiatives that are both green and fair – that deliver climate justice, create good jobs, train people in green skills, and cut carbon.

Riding Sunbeams has been involved in Network Rail’s Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy as well as the Department for Transport’s Transport Decarbonisation Strategy and could ultimately see one in every ten UK trains running on energy direct from the sun.

It has also helped to inform both Transport for London and HS1’s new tender processes to procure renewable traction energy direct from lineside generators. Last year, Riding Sunbeams completed a new feasibility study with Transport for Wales for direct supply to 25kV AC overhead electrified routes, looking at the potential for community solar to power the South Wales Metro (See separate article – Ed). Internationally, the company is on a Mission to India discussing Riding Sunbeams with Indian Railways.

Vintage Trains has announced details of its plans for this year’s Shakespeare Express heralds the start of the 2021 steam season for Vintage Trains. It runs on four summer Saturdays and nine summer Sundays presenting its well-proven formula of blossoming Warwickshire scenery through the window and great value Saturday evening dinner, Sunday lunch and afternoon tea options on your table. Operating Dates: July 17/18/24/25; August 1/8/14/15/21/22/29 September 5/12

On Saturdays, the journey in both directions will be over the Shakespeare Line, but on Sundays, the train will run from Stratford to Birmingham at express speeds up to 75mph via Solihull non-stop to Tyseley (so not stopping at Henley in Arden, although a return trip from Henley may still be made). Two return journeys will operate each day: Saturdays afternoon and evening with round trips only from

Birmingham Snow Hill or Tyseley Sundays: morning and afternoon.

Travel options: (a) outward from Birmingham or Tyseley in the morning for sightseeing in the Stratford area, returning in the late afternoon; or (b) on a round trip from Stratford to Birmingham and return in the afternoon.

Free car parking is available at Tyseley Locomotive Works avoiding Birmingham’s congestion charge (limited availability and must be booked with your train tickets).

Steam locomotives will be drawn from a pool of Clun Castle and Earl of Mount Edgcumbe (subject to availability). In the event of hot weather, Network Rail may require a diesel locomotive additionally to be added to the train to mitigate fire risk.

All trains will carry Pullman, and Tourist accommodation. A restaurant car service is included in your Pullman fare with Full English breakfast, three course lunch, afternoon cream tea or four course dinner, depending on the time of day. Snacks and drinks are also available to preorder in Tourist.