Worksop Station highly commended at National Rail Awards

Worksop was in the medium section of the Station of the Year category and shared honours with Ainsdale and section winners Penrith.

All stations entered for the awards were visited and judged against set criteria for operations, including safety, infrastructure and customer-friendly presentation.

Particular emphasis was placed on initiative and innovation and the judges described Worksop as ‘a tasteful transformation into an impressive railhead with close ties to the community’.

Northern Railway, which runs Worksop station and entered it into the awards, also has plans to repaint the front of the station, further improving the look of what is a Grade II- listed building.

Last year, then Bassetlaw MP John Mann – now Lord Mann – cut the tape on a plaque commemorating the National Heritage Conservation Award given to Worksop and was joined by representatives of the organisations involved in the refurbishment, including the Railway Heritage Trust, Network Rail, Northern, and North Notts & Lincs Community Rail Partnership (NNLCRP).

Network Rail, supported by the Railway Heritage Trust, and contractors CML, completed an authentic restoration of the station in 2018.

This included canopies, roofs and windows being carefully refurbished and repainted, along with the signal box at the Carlton Road crossing.

Rick Brand, chairman of NNLCRP Bassetlaw Area Group, said: “Entering Worksop Railway Station into this competition is a shining example of what can be achieved through local and national organisations working together.

"NNLCRP is especially grateful to Northern Railway, and the Friends of Worksop Station, the Railway Heritage Trust, Network Rail, and Bassetlaw District Council for their support of Worksop Station, which will continue to provide an excellent service to commuters and leisure travellers alike.”

“The Friends of Worksop Station continue to improve the details in the station and have recently installed authentic ‘public bar’ and ‘cafeteria’ signs, jointly funded through a grant by ACoRP (now Community Rail Network) and Northern Railway.”