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Free magical train adventure for families this half-term in Gloucestershire

Aurora Theatre and Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership (GCRP) have released their latest project, The Story Express: A Magical Train Adventure.

This family-friendly activity is available to all train passengers, in time for the half-term holidays.

Following a successful launch event at Cam and Dursley station, this immersive audio journey is now available for families to enjoy at their own pace, turning the train ride between Cam & Dursley and Ashchurch-For-Tewkesbury into a memorable adventure.

The launch event saw 60 excited passengers take part, with families receiving headphones and stepping into a world of imagination as their train carried them through the picturesque Gloucestershire countryside. Now, everyone can join in the fun.

The Story Express is designed to enhance train journeys into a world of wonder and imagination, bringing the landscapes you see from the window to life as you travel.

The process to join in is simple; Use the echoes.xyz app to download the audio experience on your smartphone, plug in your headphones, and let the magic unfold.

Ideal for children and adults alike, the audio experience transforms an ordinary train ride into an interactive adventure, making it the perfect way to explore Gloucestershire this half-term.The combination of cutting-edge technology and creative storytelling offered a fresh and engaging perspective on the region's natural beauty.

This project was commissioned by GCRP and funded by CrossCountry Trains, building upon GCRP's history of successful creative arts initiatives, including previous dance and theatre performances on train journeys.

Aurora Theatre brought this magical experience to life, working closely with a group of talented young creatives. Through co-creation workshops, local youth had the opportunity to contribute to the project, reflecting GCRP's ongoing commitment to nurturing local talent and providing young people with a platform to showcase their creativity.

The response to the launch was overwhelmingly positive, with 93% responding that they felt positive about their local place because of the experience.

Lucy Cassidy, artistic director of children's theatre company 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."

Bethan Jelfs, CrossCountry's regional director, added: "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."

Want to join in? GCRP is inviting everyone to hop on board and experience the story for themselves. For details about the project and how to download the free experience, click here 

Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership is an national award-winning community interest company that champions sustainable travel and underrepresented groups, as well as supporting community projects across Gloucestershire. Their mission statement is to make it easier for people to use sustainable transport.

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