Waiting room transformed with community help at St Margarets rail …

The waiting room at St Margarets rail station, Stanstead Abbotts, has been refurbished in a collaboration between Greater Anglia, the New River Line Community Rail Partnership and the local community. A new mural, showing a stunning view of Stanstead Abbotts by photographer Paul Wood, now adorns the waiting room, thanks to funding from the New River Line Community Rail Partnership (CRP), which worked with local people to select the perfect image. The CRP also worked with Greater Anglia to create a book swap library in the waiting room, with books donated by the community and new shelving installed which can also be used by local businesses to display promotional leaflets.

Advertisement New benches have been fitted into the redecorated waiting room, with the old ones donated to St Andrews primary school, which is just down the road from the station. Katie Goldthorpe, New River Line Community Rail Partnership officer, said, “I’m delighted that the refurbishment is now complete and the waiting room is now open.

“It looks lovely – bright, smart and clean – and it’s great that it now has a dual purpose as a community lending library. People will now be able to pick up a good read to enjoy on their journeys.” Simone Bailey, Greater Anglia’s Asset Management Director, said, “Investing in upgrades to stations across the network is extremely important to Greater Anglia, demonstrating our commitment to providing excellent facilities and service to our customers.”

“I am pleased that we have been able to work with the community on this project to deliver an improved waiting room with an additional community use to ensure that rail travel is attractive, convenient and meets the needs of local people.”

The New River Line Community Rail Partnership works with Greater Anglia, Hertfordshire County Council and other local organisations to help keep local branch lines thriving for the benefit of their communities.

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