Station Revamp Underway
Published on Friday, April 30th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
A community group sprucing up the town’s railway station is being held up as an example of how other local communities could improve their own railway stations.
The Bishop Auckland Station Trust (BAST), with the support of Network Rail and a £500 grant from Bishop Auckland Town Council’s Community Support Fund, has recently begun work to improve the town’s railway station after months of fundraising and planning.
BAST have created a three stage plan of action, which by the end of the year would see the station undergo a startling transformation.
The trust has already begun work on stage one; volunteers including the group’s chairman, Michael O’Neill, were on hand to install the first floral displays and hanging baskets.
In addition, a new station sign has been erected, and two local artists will shortly begin work on murals which will beautify the station’s walls.
A representative of the Heritage Line Community Rail Partnership, the line which runs from Darlington to Bishop Auckland, stated that the efforts of the Bishop Auckland group provided a great example of how communities could improve their facilities.
As well as improving the aesthetics of Bishop Auckland Railway Station, BAST is seeking to make an impact in the wider community. Speaking of a scheme to involve children from the town, Michael O’Neill said, “We are setting up a kids group at the station the plan is to have days out for the kids by train to the seaside and museums the members would get free travel as the trust would pay their fares, but we need to find a sponsor to help with costs, in return we would give them free advertising at the station. Also Northern rail will be giving the kids some free goodie bags”.
Between now and the end of the year BAST hopes to have funding in place that would enable it to re-open toilet facilities, introduce a baby changing unit, install a real-time display clock, to create a new entrance and build a new waiting area.
If anyone would like to join BAST or would like to contribute towards its work, contact BAST on 07875411881 or email michael.meo@hotmail.com.
This article originally appeared in Issue No. 29. Read or download The Bishop Press Issue No. 29 (PDF).
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