Community involvement encouraged for Southend Line rail stations

Published on: Thursday, 10 March 2016
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016

The Essex and South SuffolkCommunity Rail Partnership is seeking community volunteers to get involved withrail stations along the Southend Line, as part of train operator AbellioGreater Anglia’s ‘Adopt a Station’ initiative.

The ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme, which was started in 2003, enablesindividuals or groups to adopt their local railway station and contribute toits use and welfare.

Adopters are beingsought for Shenfield, Billericay, Wickford, Hockley, Prittlewell and SouthendVictoria stations.

The voluntary schemewas originally created to improve lines of communication between the trainoperator and station users however, over the years it has grown to become muchmore, with station adopters now playing an active role in keeping stationslooking good through inventive gardening projects, creative community artprojects, taking part in station ‘health checks’ or being the eyes and ears oftheir station.

Adopters have been anintegral part of raising money for projects such as improved waiting facilitiesor planting beautiful station gardens.

Anyone interested in becoming involved shouldcontact [email protected].