Published on: Thursday, 18 June 2015
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Rayleigh rail station is set to benefit from some extra care and attention as Rayleigh town councillors have become station adopters.
The Town Council and volunteers will act as the eyes and ears at the station, reporting any issues to Abellio Greater Anglia and will also come up with ideas for projects that will improve the station for the local community.
They have already created some attractive hanging baskets and tubs that are creating a bright welcome for station users.
Abellio Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Service Manager, Bill Sier, said, “I’d like to welcome Rayleigh town councillors to the role of station adopters. They have already made an impact with their lovely floral displays and I look forward to working with them and hearing their ideas.”
Rayleigh station becomes the first railway station on the Southend Victoria – London line to be adopted by the local community.
The ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme started in 2003 and enables individuals or groups to adopt their local railway station and contribute to its presentation and welfare for the benefit of the local community.
The voluntary scheme was originally created to improve lines of communication between the train operator and station users however, over the years it has grown to become much more, with station adopters now playing an active role in keeping stations looking good through inventive gardening projects, creative community art projects, taking part in station ‘health checks’ or being the eyes and ears of their station.
Over the years, station adopters have also played a key role in raising money for new initiatives, such as improved waiting facilities or planting beautiful station gardens.
Abellio Greater Anglia now has over 183 adopters at over 90 stations across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.