Today a new outdoor garden area for Prior Weston Primary School in Islington, London, was unveiled, thanks to East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) partners, Network Rail, Siemens Mobility and GTR.
Volunteers from the three companies brought the students’ vision to life and worked together to build 60 wooden planters and 40 benches. The garden is a green space where children can play, learn and relax and it leaves a legacy of learning and leisure for years to come.
The ECDP will see state-of-the-art digital technology used to provide signalling through a screen in the train driver’s cab. It will improve reliability and provide a better and greener service for passengers. The technology is being deployed first on the Northern City Line from Finsbury Park to Moorgate, which is near to Prior Weston school.
Ben Lane, Project Director – ECDP for Siemens Mobility said:
“Our technology will help transform the everyday journeys of passengers and freight along one of the UK’s key transport arteries, the East Coast Main Line. I’m pleased our impact goes further than this, with the recent opening of a garden at Prior Weston the latest example. This truly demonstrates how sustainable investment in transport can support jobs, growth and communities in the UK.”
This activity supports the programme’s decarbonisation vision while promoting STEM subjects and careers in the railway industry to young children, all while delivering a railway fit for the 21st century.
Fiona MacCorquodale, Headteacher at Prior Western Primary School said:
“We're proud to unveil this stunning Garden of Tranquillity, which provides a peaceful and serene environment for our students to relax and unwind. This project has been a wonderful learning opportunity for our students, teaching them the value of collaboration, teamwork, perseverance, and creativity.
We are incredibly grateful to ECDP for their partnership and generosity, which has allowed Prior Weston to create a unique and beautiful space that will be enjoyed for years to come. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Siemens and exploring new ways to inspire and empower our students.”
Rob Forde, Senior Programme Manager ECDP for Network Rail said:
“We welcome this opportunity to support a local community near the route. ECDP is creating the next generation railway and it’s important we engage with young people to highlight the digital skills and knowledge that will be needed in the future.”
Oly Turner, Head of ERTMS for GTR said:
“Thanks to the East Coast Digital Programme, our Great Northern passengers already have more reliable journeys on the Northern City Line, between Finsbury Park and Moorgate. Delivering improvements for communities along our route is what we're about which is why we were so delighted to join our industry colleagues in this fabulous initiative at one of our local schools.”
