Solar power helps light up Essex railway station

Published on: Friday, 2 November 2018
Last updated: Friday, 2 November 2018

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

The lights have been installed on a walkway at Thorpe-le-Soken railway station, on the ‘Sunshine Coast’ branch line between Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea.

The walk along the entrance road used to be dark and unlit, but now with 50 solar-powered cats eyes in place the walk way is illuminated and provides a clear path for passengers to walk along.

The project was funded by the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership (ESSCRP) which donated £6,800.

Paul Haynes, Greater Anglia’s Community Rail Partnerships Manager, said: ““We would like to thank Community Rail Partnership for funding this project, which will make a difference to rail passengers using the station.

“At Greater Anglia we are working on a number of environmentally friendly projects including fitting LED lighting, using solar power and creating bee-friendly gardens. This project at Thorpe Le Soken will help us further to reduce our carbon footprint, create a more pleasant atmosphere for our customers and improve safety and security.”

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.”