Press releases

Volunteers from across Wales and the border counties of England have shown their community spirit by 'adopting' over half of the unstaffed railway stations on the Arriva Trains Wales/Trenau Arriva Cymru network.

One hundred of Arriva's 190 unstaffed railway stations have been adopted by local people and community groups under the company's 'Adopt a Station' scheme. The innovative scheme, set up in April 2004, aims to involve communities in caring for and taking pride in their local railway station.

The 100th station to be adopted is Betws-y-coed, on the beautiful Conwy Valley Line, and is being taken on by Marion Betteney and other members of Betws-y-coed Community Council and Colin Cartwright and the Conwy Valley Railway Museum team.

On Friday (28 July 2006) Lord Dafydd Ellis-Thomas, Presiding Officer, National Assembly for Wales, and AM for the area, presented both adopters with a plaque officially marking the adoption of the station.

Betws-y-coed joins a long list of adopted stations ranging from Rhosneigr, on the Isle of Anglesey, the northern tip of the Arriva Trains Wales network, to Llantwit Major in South Wales and from Pembroke Dock in West Wales to as far east as Leominster.

Station adopters include teenagers, a sprightly 85 year old, a train buff, a psychiatrist, a pub landlord, Neighbourhood Watch, families, rail user groups and city commuters.

At Betws-y-coed Station, Marion Betteney of the village Community Council said:

The Community Council is keen to get involved in the scheme to ensure that the station remains a welcoming gateway to the village. The train station is what helped to make Betws-y-coed famous so it's an important part of our history and culture.

She continued:

On a personal front I walk my dog over the station footbridge at least once a day so I can keep a close eye on the facilities and let our local station manager, Gerald Jones, know if there are any issues that may need addressing.

Colin Cartwright runs the popular Conwy Valley Railway Museum directly opposite Betws-y-coed Station which houses railway memorabilia and, outside, has a tiny rail yard with miniature steam trains children can ride on.

Colin said:

We count ourselves lucky to have the station and gateway to the scenic Conwy Valley Line practically on our doorstep. By officially adopting the station we can help to play a real role in its future and encourage local people and visitors to the museum to explore our wonderful local area by train.

Since the Adopt a Station scheme was created by Arriva station adoption teams have used their creative energies to improve station environments for local people:

• In Dolau, on the Heart of Wales Line, and Criccieth, on the Cambrian Coast, rural stations have been transformed by green fingered station adopters. Floral displays at the stations have won Wales in Bloom Awards;
• Three stations in the South Wales valleys have benefited from a splash of colour thanks to artwork produced by adoption teams. At Tonypandy, in the Rhondda Valley, station murals produced by teenage artists have improved the station for local commuters and visitors;
• Community projects carried out at Chirk Station, in North Wales, in partnership with local adopters, brownies, girl guides and members of the Chirk Fire Service scooped a major Network Rail Environment Award. The national award recognised efforts to improve the station appearance and place the station at the heart of the community.

At a number of Arriva's adopted stations British Transport Police have reported a drop in crime and anti-social behaviour. Gowerton Station, near Swansea, has seen a 40 per cent reduction in incidents of trespass and vandalism.

Ian Bullock, customer services director for Arriva Trains Wales, said:

By acting as an extra pair of eyes and ears at local stations and keeping us informed of any issues that need addressing, station adopters perform a valuable role for Arriva Trains Wales.

From local individuals and businesses to community groups and rail enthusiasts, station adopters invest a great deal of their time and enthusiasm helping us to ensure that our stations meet the high standards expected by rail users and we are extremely grateful to them for their commitment.

Station adopters carry out regular spot checks relating to the tidiness and cleanliness of the station, in addition to those already undertaken by Arriva Trains Wales. Any issues that may need addressing are then passed on to the local station manager. In return, adopters are offered travel vouchers for use on the Arriva Trains Wales network.

More information about the scheme can be obtained by calling Arriva Trains Wales' customer relations team on 0845 6061 660 or by visiting www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk.

Ends

Notes to editors

• The Arriva Trains Wales/Trenau Arriva Cymru Adopt a Station scheme is supported by the British Transport Police and the Association of Community Rail Partnerships.
• Arriva Trains Wales provides interurban, rural and commuter passenger rail services throughout Wales and the border counties. The company carries approximately 60,000 passengers each day across a network of over 1000 miles. Arriva Trains Wales employs over 2000 people and operates 237 stations, 190 of which are unstaffed.