Stalybridge school pupils all aboard for a memorable railway experience
School pupils from Stalybridge were given a hands-on introduction to the world of rail travel thanks to support from the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) and TransPennine Express (TPE) last week.
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 visited Stalybridge station to learn about railway careers and station operations, before taking a return journey into Manchester.
The idea for the project came directly from the students themselves. Earlier this year, the boys shared that they wanted to create a video to help other young people learn how to confidently use trains in and out of Manchester.
The concept quickly developed into a wider initiative, called Tameside Tracks, supported by an educational social enterprise called Pursuing Individual Excellence, as well as TRU and TPE teams, who have been working with the group since May 2025.
The pupils were given the opportunity to learn more about planning journeys, buying tickets, and travelling between local stations - as well as discovering how the Transpennine Route Upgrade is improving 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.