Stalybridge pupils get on board with rail confidence project

School pupils from Stalybridge were given a hands-on introduction to the world of rail travel last week, thanks to support from the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) and TransPennine Express (TPE).

As part of an ongoing project with the school, a group of boys from West Hill School took part in a special ‘Try the Train’ day, designed to help them gain confidence in using the railway independently and safely.

The students began their journey at Stalybridge Station, where they learned about railway careers and station operations before taking a return trip into Manchester.

The idea for the project came directly from the pupils themselves. Earlier this year, the boys shared their ambition to create a video to help other young people learn how to confidently use trains when travelling in and out of Manchester.

What started as a classroom idea quickly developed into a wider initiative called Tameside Tracks, supported by educational social enterprise Pursuing Individual Excellence, as well as the TRU and TPE teams, who have been working with the group since May 2025.

Throughout the project, the pupils have learned practical skills such as journey planning, buying tickets, and navigating local stations. They also discovered more about the major improvements being delivered through the Transpennine Route Upgrade, which is transforming rail links across the North.

Andrew Watkins, Community & Development Manager at TransPennine Express, said: “It’s been fantastic to see how enthusiastic and engaged the students from West Hill School have been. Their project is a great example of young people helping other young people feel more confident about using public transport. We’re proud to support them and look forward to seeing the finished video.”

The Transpennine Route Upgrade, a multi-billion-pound programme of rail improvements between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, provided funding for the project as part of its commitment to supporting community initiatives and encouraging sustainable travel.

Credit: Transpennine Express