AN initiative to promote the Tamar Valley railway line has won a national award.

The Great Scenic Railways campaign won first prize in the best marketing campaign category at the National Community Rail Awards, held in Torquay recently.

Great Scenic Railways was a multimedia campaign launched in the spring by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, which sought to promote the branch lines of Devon and Cornwall through a new website, social media advertising and a launch event at London’s Paddington Station featuring a Poldark-inspired promotion.

The launch event resulted in 10,000 extra visitors to the new website greatscenicrailways.com in just five weeks, as well as a 75% jump in Facebook followers.

Richard Burningham, from the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, said: ‘We are delighted to be recognised in this category. The Great Scenic Railways campaign has been very successful and the initial increase of traffic on our website has continued throughout the rest of the year, meaning that more and more people are discovering our beautiful branch lines in Devon and Cornwall.’

Great Western Railway campaign manager Jamie Anderson said: ‘With so many low cost fares to Devon and Cornwall there is an enormous opportunity to explore scenic Poldark country and see for yourself the incredible destinations the area has to offer.

‘Our local community rail services are not only among the fastest growing, but also among the most reliable in the country and it is great to see them supporting tourism and being recognised in this manner.’

The Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership works to promote the eight rural branch lines in two counties and is a non-profit partnership between local authorities, including Devon County Council, Cornwall Council, Plymouth City Council, Plymouth University and the rail industry.