Station Adopters
Introduction
Through our ‘Adopt a Station’ programme, more than 250 volunteers are working to enhance and maintain 151 stations in their local communities across Wales.
Well-being goals
Ways of working
Adopt a Station
Our 'Adopt a Station' scheme aims to help improve our links with local communities and customers living near unstaffed railway stations. Stations play an important role in communities and are often the first thing people see when they arrive in a town. The scheme has similar objectives to the ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ programme where local people help us by keeping an eye on their station and maintaining a good environment for people arriving in the community. Station adopters submit at least two reports a month about the condition of their station.
We ask for adopters to report on matters such as litter, graffiti, vandalism, lighting, information help points, and timetable information. In return for their valued support, all our station adopters receive an annual travel voucher that can be used on any part of the UK rail network. Adopters are also invited to a regional conference in the summer so that they can meet other adopters and find out about our exciting plans for station and fleet enhancements.
Station adopters
Some station adopter groups care for floral displays or the station garden. Volunteers at Nantwich maintained their garden to such a high standard that they were awarded the Merseyrail In Bloom award at the 17th Cheshire Best Kept Stations Awards, held in January 2020. The awards also recognised Frodsham and Runcorn stations to mark the restoration of regular passenger services by TfW over the Halton Curve and Wrenbury Station as the most improved.
Chirk Station has been recognised by other organisations, receiving the Clwyd Award and the Wrexham Civic Society Award for their environmental improvements. Since the programme began, 151 stations have been adopted. Currently, there are more than 250 active volunteers helping to care for our stations. We are pleased to see communities eager to engage with their local train stations and are proud of the role the 'Adopt a Station' scheme plays in helping people become more active and healthy.
The progress we have made since our appointment in March 2019 should be enhanced during the next 12 months by the planned improvements proposed by Transport for Wales within their business plan.
David Houghton
Wrenbury Station Adopter
