Shanklin Train Station has succeeded in winning an award at the prestigious National Rail Awards, winning in the small stations category.
The Grade II listed Victorian station on South Western Railway’s Island Line triumphed over highly commended Buxton Station in Derbyshire, Hatch End Station in North West London to win in the ‘Station of the Year – Small’ category.
Judges considered entries against set criteria for operations, including safety, infrastructure and customer-friendly presentation. Particular emphasis for the category was placed on initiative and innovation.
Rail magazine organises the ‘Railway Oscars’ every year to reward excellence and achievement in the industry. This year’s ceremony took place on Monday (10th October) at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, co-hosted by BBC presenter Huw Edwards.
SWR’s Island Line between Ryde Pierhead and Shanklin reopened in November 2021 following a £26million transformation of the line’s trains, stations, and infrastructure, which included the launch of the new Class 484 fleet. However, the service has been temperamental ever since with more cancellations than ever before, mainly due to a lack of investment in staffing.
Claire Mann, Managing Director of South Western Railway, commented:
“I’m absolutely thrilled that Shanklin station on the Island Line has won the prestigious ‘Station of the Year’ award, following the £26 million transformation of the line undertaken last year.
“We are always striving to improve our customer experience and it’s great to get national recognition for our team’s hard work. Thank you to all those who worked so hard to achieve this success.”
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“ We are always striving to improve our customer experience”.
Well, that’s an easy fix…
Run a reliable to timetable service!
Invest in extra staff!
What an absolute joke!!!
The service barely runs so the question surely has to be: “When is a train station not a train station?”
Would be just as relevant to train services to give the nearest kerbstone a ‘train kerb of the year’ award!
‘Particular emphasis for the category was placed on initiative and innovation.’ Hmm – closing toilets comes under innovation? Otherwise, seems much as before.
Yes, staff are fabulous when they are there. Apart from that I am aghast!!!!
THIS IS THE BIGGEST JOKE AROUND TOILETS NEVER OPEN TRAINS CANCELLED WITHOUT NOTICE
NEVER ENOUGH STAFF GET REAL
Train station?? It’s a railway station.