The Cheshire Best Kept Stations Awards have recognised Transport for Wales stations Nantwich and Wrenbury.

The awards took place at Crewe Alexandra Football Club’s Gresty Road stadium on 6 February and aimed to recognise the work of volunteers and staff at stations across Cheshire.

Craig Harrop, Regional Director West & Central for Northern Railway, hosted the event, presenting awards in a variety of categories.

Nantwich station was the winner of the prestigious ‘Best Kept Station Award 2024′. Judges recognised the station for its station artwork and for its garden, which won the Best Kept Garden award in 2023.

Transport for Wales says that the station provides “a wonderful welcome to those travelling to the area, as well as those who visit locally”.

Nantwich station has undergone a makeover. The work was carried out as a collaboration between Transport for Wales, 3 Counties Connected Community Rail Partnership, pupils from Nantwich Academy Primary School, local artist Cathy Williams, and station volunteers.

As a result, passengers travelling through Nantwich can gain a taste of the town by viewing artwork prominent display in the platform waiting for shelters.

Wrenbury, which won the ‘Most Improved Station’ award back in 2020, this year won the ‘Art Project Award’.

Its art project, funded by 3 Counties Connected Community Rail Partnership, involved artist Cathy Williams working with children from Wrenbury Primary School.

The pupils explored what makes Wrenbury special for them. They used a series of line drawings and worked with coloured sugar paper.

Transport for Wales sees the awards as a recognition of the ongoing relationships that it has developed with communities across its network.

The award winners are chosen by a team of independent judges. The judges come from community organisations, including Rotary Clubs and Women’s Institutes. These organisations provide a perspective from outside the railway industry. The judges visit stations during the year, mainly in spring and summer.

Other winners included Merseyrail’s Bebington, Holylake and Meols stations.

“We are thrilled to have won two awards at the Cheshire Best Kept Stations for the Wrenbury and Nantwich Art Projects.

“Working with pupils from Nantwich Academy Primary, Wrenbury Primary, and the dedicated station adopters has been a real honour. The final displays are vibrant and truly showcase what makes these Cheshire communities so special.”

Josie, Community Rail Officer at 3 Counties Connected