SIMPLICITY is a virtue—especially when it delivers something memorable.
Imagine this: you buy a standard train ticket, step aboard at your local station, and settle in for the journey—only to find live music already in full swing, at no extra cost.
Halfway along the route, you hop off, stroll a few minutes to a cosy country pub, enjoy good food and drink, then return to the platform for a lively ride home.
This is the Music Train—an inventive monthly event organised by the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership (MCCRP).
The partnership exists to champion the Mid Cheshire Line, which runs between Chester and Manchester, linking communities such as Northwich, Knutsford, and a string of smaller villages and rural stops.
It’s a line which quietly stitches the region together—but one that, like many rural routes, depends on steady passenger numbers to survive.
Why does it need promoting? Simply put: quieter lines can struggle. Without regular use, services risk being reduced or even cut altogether—a classic case of 'use it or lose it'.
That’s where the Music Train comes in. Run by dedicated volunteers, it combines live entertainment with a practical purpose: bringing people onto the trains while fostering a sense of community. It’s transport reimagined as an experience.
I joined the April Music Train, boarding at Chester at around 6.45pm, where volunteers Jim, Ali, and Mark greeted passengers with warmth and enthusiasm. Our destination: the Golden Pheasant in Plumley. Providing the soundtrack for the evening was BandaRama, a Chester-based guitar duo specialising in rich vocal harmonies and 60s and 70s classics.
From the moment we set off, it was clear this was no ordinary commute. The Music Train effectively takes over a carriage—and after a few curious glances from unsuspecting commuters, the music began.
If anything, those initial looks of surprise quickly softened into smiles. I half expected passengers to retreat elsewhere, but instead they stayed—tapping feet, listening in, and gradually becoming part of the atmosphere.
And what an atmosphere it was—welcoming, relaxed, and quietly joyous. It was easy to strike up conversation with fellow travellers and volunteers alike, all drawn together by the shared experience.
Although I regularly drive all over Mid Cheshire for work, seeing the line from the train offered a fresh perspective. Beyond the stations lies a patchwork of open countryside, hidden views you simply don’t notice from the road. It was a reminder that sometimes the journey itself is worth slowing down for.
Accessibility and inclusivity were clearly priorities. As more passengers—42 in total—joined at stations along the route, volunteers ensured everyone felt accommodated and involved.
At Plumley, we disembarked and made the short walk across to the Golden Pheasant, where the evening continued. The band, now fully set up with the help of a sound engineer, picked up where they left off.
There was plenty of time for a relaxed dinner—fish and chips in my case—washed down with a couple of pints of J.W. Lees bitter. The evening struck an ideal balance: part social gathering, part gig, part countryside excursion.
When it was time to head back, the return journey carried a noticeably livelier mood. With spirits high, BandaRama leaned into a set of singalong favourites, transforming the carriage into something closer to a travelling pub choir.
We rolled back into Chester at around 10.30pm—just in time for onward connections—bringing an evening of music, conversation and scenery to a close.
As I said my goodbyes to the volunteers, one thing stood out: the charm of the Music Train lies in its simplicity. It doesn’t need grand staging or elaborate logistics—just a train, a band, and a community willing to come along for the ride.
Upcoming dates this year include June 11 and July 30 from Chester, and September 24 from Altrincham. For more details, visit the MCCRP Music Train website.
Because sometimes, the best ideas really are the simplest—and what could be simpler than hopping on a train?
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