A NEW immersive audio project has been launched at Cam & Dursley railway station aiming to turn ordinary train journeys into memorable adventures.
Aurora Theatre and Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership have unveiled its latest project where families can download a free app to listen to stories while they travel.
The audio journey begins at the station car park in Cam and finishes at Ashchurch for Tewkesbury.
Organisers say the project - known as the Story Express - is designed to enhance train
journeys, bringing the landscapes you see from the window to life as you travel.
Young creatives from the area also contributed to the project through workshops with Aurora Theatre.
The scheme was commissioned by GCRP and funded by CrossCountry Trains.
An official launch event took place with 60 passengers in Cam on August 29.
Lucy Cassidy, artistic director of Aurora said: "We're thrilled to launch The Story Express, a unique train journey that turns travel into an enchanting story-based adventure.
"It's easy to take part in just hop on board, gaze out of the window, and enjoy stories and music that bring the world outside the train to life.
“One of our test audience members summed it up perfectly: ‘I will never see train journeys, windows, and stations in the same way again. I’m looking for stories!’
“A huge thank you to GCRP and Cross Country Trains for their support in making this magical adventure possible.”
Hannah McDonnell, executive director of GCRP said: "The Story Express is a shining example of what can happen when we collaborate and unleash the creativity of our young people.
“We're so proud to offer an experience that's not just fun, but also helps people connect with their community and local train stations, and encourages them to think about greener ways to travel."
CrossCountry’s regional director Bethan Jelfs said: “We are delighted to have supported this fantastic initiative to make a train journey part of a magical experience to learn more about Gloucestershire.
“This project, delivered by GCRP, is one of many initiatives we are involved in to help make the railway a more active partner in the communities we serve."
For details about the project and how to download the app, visit - tinyurl.com/mw9nkc27
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