Dolwyddelan station wins UK community award

A North Wales railway station which has seen itself transformedfrom a tired halt to a local picnic spot has won a UK award for thelocal people that made it possible.

Dolwyddelan Station has been named the UK's Most EnhancedCommunity Station by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships(ACoRP). The award recognises the work of two local groups toimprove the station environment for local rail users.

The station has been 'adopted' by Dolwyddelan Yn Ei Blodau andyoung people from Cylch Yr Ifanc, under the Arriva Trains Wales'Adopt a Station' scheme. Supported by community rail officer LarryDavies, volunteers have transformed the station garden with a rangeof plants and flowers and created a picnic spot for local peopleand visitors in the station's former goods yard.

In winning the award the groups fought off competition fromBurscough Bridge and Parbold stations in West Lancashire. Thejudges commended the way that local people, young and old, hadpulled together to create a welcoming gateway to the station andthe beautiful Conwy Valley Line.

Retired couple David and Olwen Williams from Dolwyddelancollected the award on behalf of the station adoption teams,alongside Arriva station manager Gerald Jones. Speaking at theawards David said:

It's absolutely wonderful to receive a UK award for thework that local people have put in to improve DolwyddelanStation.

For us there's no better prize than seeing the stationgardens appreciated and the picnic area in use. We often return tothe station to find the picnic benches moved around so thatfamilies and large groups can sit together and share a meal. Italways brings a smile to our faces to think that the station gardenhas been enjoyed in this way.

On receiving the award the station adoption groups have beencongratulated by Arriva Trains Wales and have also received specialrecognition from Andrew Davies, the Welsh Assembly Governmentminister responsible for transport in Wales.

Andrew Davies, Welsh Assembly Government minister forenterprise, innovation and networks, said:

This is marvellous news for the station adopters andfor all the local people and visitors who use Dolwyddelan Station.Encouraging people to use public transport regularly is animportant part of our transport policy and projects like this canonly help to promote the station and the beautiful Conwy ValleyLine.

Arriva's success under its Adopt a Station scheme, hereand at other stations across Wales and the borders, is a tribute totheir commitment to involving communities in their localrailway.

Gerald Jones, Dolwyddelan's station manager for Arriva TrainsWales, said:

We are really delighted that the efforts of the groupsat Dolwyddelan Station have been recognised like this.

Our Adopt a Station scheme asks local people to act asan extra pair of eyes and ears at our stations and let us know ifthere are any issues that need addressing. But the groups atDolwyddelan have really gone that extra mile to help improve theirstation for local people and visitors and we are grateful to themfor their hard work and commitment.

In August this year, the Conwy Valley celebrated the 100thadoption of an Arriva Trains Wales station at Betws-y-Coed. Overtwo-thirds of the company's 190 unstaffed stations have beenadopted by local volunteers, eight of which are on the Conwy ValleyLine.

Station adopters carry out regular spot checks relating to thetidiness and cleanliness of the station, in addition to thosealready undertaken by Arriva Trains Wales. Any issues that may needaddressing are then passed on to the local station manager. Inreturn, adopters are offered travel vouchers for use on the ArrivaTrains Wales network.

More information about the Adopt a station scheme is availableby calling Arriva Trains Wales' customer relations team on 08456061 660 or by visitingwww.arrivatrainswales.co.uk.

Wales won two other ACoRP awards at the event held in Darlingtonon Friday evening (22 September 2006). Dolau Station on the Heartof Wales Line, in Mid Wales, was judged the UK's Best StationGarden and the Heart of Wales Line Forum's marketing strategy forthe railway line by the was named the most innovative of the 60 UKrail partnerships and rail promotion groups.

Notes to editors

• More information about the Association of Community RailPartnerships is available at www.acorp.uk.com.