Four of our stations have been nominated as the best-loved in the region, as part of this year’s World Cup of Stations, which this year has been deliberately organised to coincide with Community Rail Week. The annual competition, supported by the Rail Delivery Group, is this year being jointly run with the Community Rail Network, to showcase community rail and the benefits the railways bring to residents, the environment, and the local economy. It highlights the best examples of where local partnerships or volunteers have helped improve the station for customers and the local community alike. In the East, Beccles and Lowestoft, in Suffolk, Southminster, in Essex, and Thetford, in Norfolk, all managed by Greater Anglia, have made it to the East “final” or Group Stage, with the vote held on Monday. Beccles was nominated for its thriving community-owned café and meeting space in the old station building. The community room is available for rent for or business gatherings, training days, exercise classes, and more. Lowestoft has seen the development of an amazing community hub in the original station building by three local volunteer station adopters (working as the Lowestoft Central group), with the help of the Wherry Lines CRP and the support of Greater Anglia. They have created a multi-purpose room which can be used for exhibitions or meetings and developed a tourism hub and shop. Southminster has become home to the first Men’s Shed in England to be located at a railway station. Thetford has become a wildlife friendly “mecca” due to the remarkable efforts of the local volunteer station adopter team who spend many hours on the station. As well as creating lovely station gardens which received a “Thetford in Bloom” award and a ‘Wildlife Friendly Stations’ accreditation, they have installed bat and swift boxes to help support the populations of these threatened species. Over 100 nominations were whittled down to 48 by TV presenter Tim Dunn, covering four from each of 11 regions, plus Tim’s four bonus stations selection. The winning station from the East will go through to a semi-final on 25 May against the winners of the South East, South West and London heats. Winners of next Thursday’s votes go through to a final next Friday (26 May) when this year’s winner will be crowned the UK’s best-loved station. You can vote for your favourite from the four nominated East stations – Beccles, Lowestoft, Southminster or Thetford on Monday 22 May on Twitter via #WorldCupofStations or @RailDeliveryGrp.
