About South Wessex CRP
Connecting communities, supporting local places
South Wessex Community Rail Partnership (CRP) brings people, communities and railways together to make a positive difference across South Wessex.
We believe railways are about much more than getting from A to B. They connect people to the places they live, work, learn and visit — helping communities thrive and creating opportunities for everyone.
Working closely with local communities, rail operators, local authorities, schools, businesses, community groups and other partners, we develop projects and activities that make a real difference to the people who use and value our railway.
Making a difference locally
From community events and station improvements to activities that encourage people to explore their local area by rail, our work is shaped by the needs and ideas of the communities we serve.
We’re proud to support projects that:
- Bring communities together
- Encourage sustainable and accessible travel
- Celebrate local heritage, culture and identity
- Improve the experience of travelling by rail
- Help people discover the towns, villages and countryside along our routes
- Create opportunities for local groups, schools and organisations to get involved
Working together
Our work is only possible because of strong local partnerships. We collaborate with communities and organisations across South Wessex, sharing ideas, knowledge and resources to turn local ambitions into positive action.
Whether it’s a community group getting involved in a station project, a school discovering its local railway heritage, or partners working together to improve the passenger experience, collaboration is at the heart of what we do.
Meet Our Team
Chantelle Bacon
Community Rail Officer
Chantelle is responsible for our day-to-day running and the development of our projects and activities within the South Wessex Community Rail Partnership. This includes building and maintaining relationships with volunteers, recruiting volunteers, and helping to assist and secure funding for the stations and the local community. Chantelle has great enthusiasm for being the voice of […]
Jon Morgan
Chairman (2025 – Present)
Jon took over the role of Chair of the CRP in November 2025. Having worked in the market research industry for 30 plus years, including running his own research business for 14 years, Jon joined GWR in 2014. Jon’s first role was as a Project Manager in the major possessions team as the Great Western […]
Sue McGowan
Director
Sue joined the Board of Directors in November 2025. She currently works for Dorset Council and brings over 25 years of experience in the transport sector, spanning both long-term transport planning and operational responsibility for Dorset’s subsidised bus network and bus stop infrastructure. Sue is passionate about using her knowledge and experience to support the […]
Barry Tempest
Director
After a career in teaching, mostly English, at school, further, and higher education levels, I have been partly retired for some years, and am now fully retired. I became involved with the Friends of Dorchester West station at its outset a decade and a half ago, and was later appointed a Director of the incipient […]
Steve Tanner
Director
Steve has served as a Director on the South Wessex Community Rail Partnership Board since 2021 and is also a councillor with Frome Town Council. Steve moved to Frome with his family in 1993 after spending several years working overseas in Dubai. A former reinsurance broker, he now works with Fair Housing for Frome alongside […]
Sue Blake
Board Member
A Board member since February 2025, Susan was born and educated in Oxfordshire and settled in Dorchester in 1960. This was the start of voluntary work in the town. After a long career in local government her last job was as part of the Senior Management Team of the Library Service until retirement in 2003. […]
John Henderson
Board Member
John has been a member of the CRP for two years and is a volunteer at Frome station. He’s helped with looking after the four flower beds and keeping the station free of litter and graffiti. John comes from Swansea in Wales, and has lived in London, Cambridge and Scotland. His main career was as […]
Looking to the future
We want South Wessex to have a railway that continues to serve and connect its communities for generations to come.
As we look ahead, we’ll continue listening to local people, supporting new ideas and developing projects that strengthen the connection between the railway and the communities around it.
Together, we can help make our railway more welcoming, more accessible and more connected to the people and places it serves.
Be part of our journey
South Wessex CRP is all about people and place — and there are many ways to get involved.
Whether you’re a local resident, community group, school, business or organisation, we’d love to hear your ideas and explore how we can work together to make a difference