Solar power helps light up Essex railway station

Published on: Wednesday, 17 January 2018
Last updated: Wednesday, 17 January 2018

An Essex railway station has a bright future ahead of after solar-powered LED cats eyes were installed.

The lights have been installed on a walkway at Chappel & Wakes Colne railway station, on the branch line between Sudbury and Marks Tey.

The walk along the entrance road used to be dark and unlit, but now with 54 Solar power cats eyes in place the walk way is illuminated and provides a clear path for passengers to walk along.

The project was funded by Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACORP) which donated £5,000, Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership (ESSCRP) which donated £3,800 and a further £2,000 was added by Wakes Colne Parish Council

Paul Haynes, Greater Anglia’s Community Rail Partnerships Manager, said: “We would like to thank ACORP, Essex and South Suffolk CRP and Wakes Colne Parish Council for funding this project, which will make a difference to rail passengers in Essex.

“At Greater Anglia we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint so the fact that the lights are solar powered is an added bonus as it helps reduce the amount of energy we are using.”

Jayne Sumner, ESSCRP Manager, said: “These LEDs will help light the way for train users on dark mornings and evenings. I would like to say huge thank you to everyone who has helped to install them in time to give a real benefit for customers during the long winter nights.”

Brian Barnsley, Deputy chief executive and senior operations manager at ACoRP, said: “The partners of the Designated Community Rail Development Fund are delighted to provide funding support for innovative schemes such as the Cats Eyes project.

“By making stations and their approaches a safer environment, we hope that the newly installed lighting will encourage more people to use the station, and also act as a cost-effective benchmark project for other stations.”