The restoration of Bishopstone Station has been highly commended at a prestigious awards ceremony.
The conversion of the Old Parcel Room into a community hub was praised by judges at the National Railway Heritage Awards.
The scheme was shortlisted in the Avanti West Coast Community Award category in a submission by Govia Thameslink Railway. The category was “for the restoration, refurbishment or other improvement of a station of building either by a community group, or for a community use which connects communities and promotes social inclusion”.
The work by Southern Railway, Friends of Bishopstone Station, Southeast Communities Rail Partnership and other partners was highlighted at the awards ceremony held at Merchant Taylors’ Hall on Wednesday 6 December.
Speaking at the event, Tim Hedley-Jones, executive director of the Railway Heritage Trust, said: “The outcome of this project is that the station building has had significant work done to bring it back into repair and is now back in regular, very meaningful community use and this is how the station is cared for. All involved in this project can be justifiably pleased with the results of their work.”
The Highly Commended certificate was presented to GTR infrastructure project manager Paul Devereux and Friends of Bishopstone Station chair Barbara Mine.
Bishopstone is on the Sussex Downs Line running from Seaford to Brighton.
Photo caption (Left to right): Andy Savage (chairman of trustees), Barbara Mine (chair of Friends of Bishopstone Station), Paul Devereux (GTR infrastructure project manager), Bill Reeve (director of rail, Transport Scotland). Credit: Paul Bromley, Sussex Downs Line Officer, Southeast CRP
