Southminster Railway Station named as one of the ‘most loved’ in …
An Essex train station is one of the “most loved” in the entire East Anglian region as it bagged a nomination for a prestigious award. Southminster Railway Station in the Dengie has been nominated alongside three others to be best in the region in the World Cup of Stations 2023.
The awards scheme is an annual competition supported by the Rail Delivery Group and the Community Rail Network to showcase community rail and the benefits railways bring to residents, the environment and the local economy.
Southminster station joins Beccles and Lowestoft in Suffolk and Thetford in Norfolk, all managed by Greater Anglia. Southminster has become home to the first Men’s Shed in England to be located at a railway station. Men’s Shed is an initiative to create community spaces for men to connect, converse and create.
The activities that the groups do are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy together. The scheme is to help reduce loneliness and isolation through enjoyable group activities.
More than 100 nominations were whittled down to 48 by TV presenter Tim Dunn in the competition that was last held in 2019. They now face each other in a series of mini-battles to be crowned World Cup of Stations champion 2023. Each of the nominees are from one of 11 regions, with four bonus stations selected by Tim Dunn.
The station with the most votes from each of the groups will head to the semi-final on May 25, culminating in the final on May 26 when this year’s winner will be crowned the UK’s best-loved station. People can vote for their favourite station from the East from today (May 22) via #WorldCupofStations or @RailDeliveryGrp.
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Jonathan Denby, Greater Anglia’s Head of Corporate Affairs, said, “I’m delighted that four of our stations have been put forward as some of the UK’s best. We are committed to improvements at stations to make them attractive and welcoming for passengers.
“We are therefore grateful for the support of our community rail partnerships, volunteers and partners for helping us to put rail at the heart of the community, through mutually beneficial projects which turn our stations into thriving community hubs.”
Tim Dunn, TV presenter and shortlist judge, said: “I had the tricky task of selecting the shortlist of 48 stations – tricky, because it represents the work of 48 groups of chuffing ace volunteers. The time, energy and love each group gives is because of a love of our shared railway and their communities too. It might seem bonkers, but this competition showcases the hard work of hundreds countrywide, then amplifies and celebrates all in community rail.
“Remember: like a football World Cup, the winners each day need more and more support – in every battle, it’s the one with the most votes who wins!”
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