Press release -
New group on track to spruce up Stourbridge stations
A new community group has been formed to bring a new lease of life to Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town railway stations – and it’s looking for new members.
Friends of Stourbridge Stations (FOSS) will be looking to spruce up the two railway stations, by creating colourful new floral displays and running community activities throughout the year. The first event being a planned by the groups is a celebration of the branch line’s 140th anniversary, to take place at Stourbridge Junction station later this summer.
Members of the group are also now official station adopters of the two stations, and will be working with West Midlands Railway and Pre Metro Operations (operator of the Stourbridge Town Car), on a variety of projects over the coming months.
Group chairman Phil Tonks, who also drives the award-winning Stourbridge Shuttle between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town, said: “Our stations in Stourbridge are increasingly popular and well-used, and we are looking to improve them visually, by adding splashes of colour with some floral displays. There’s something for everyone to get involved in, and we’d love to hear from gardeners who could display their talent around the stations! We’re also keen to hear from people who have memories of the branch line and stations as we celebrate 140 years of operation in the town”.
Fay Easton, head of stakeholder and community for West Midlands Railway, said: “The new Friends of Stourbridge Stations group has plenty of great ideas to brighten up the stations and really give something back to rail users in the town. We offer ongoing support for our adoption groups, to enable them to see their varied ideas come to fruition, and we are excited to see what can be achieved at both Stourbridge Town and Stourbridge Junction stations going forward. If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, even on an occasional basis, the group would love to hear from you!”
West Midlands Railway supports over 150 station adopters across it’s network, and is on track to bring community engagement to every one of it’s 151 stations across the region. Activities undertaken by groups range from gardening, to art installations, mini libraries and community events using rooms in station buildings. However, this list is always open for new ideas. For more information on station adoption go to westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/adopt-station
For more information on the Friends of Stourbridge Stations group go to friendsofstourbridgestations.com or email hello@friendsofstourbridgestations.com
Members of the Friends of Stourbridge Stations group working on planters on the platforms at Stourbridge Junction.
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For further information on this release, call our press office on 03300 955150 or email press.office@wmtrains.co.uk
About Pre Metro Operations
Pre Metro Operations works in partnership with West Midlands Railway, to operate the Stourbridge Shuttle – a train service between Stourbridge Town and Stourbridge Junction, on the shortest branch line in the country
Using innovative technology, the Stourbridge Town Car provides the best service this line has seen in its 130-plus year history. Our operation is clean, green, frequent, highly reliable and easy-access.
A 7-day service started in 2009, and today operates with a reliability of between 99.7% and 100%.
About West Midlands Trains
West Midlands Trains operates both West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway services.
- London Northwestern Railway services operate between Liverpool and Birmingham, and on the West Coast mainline to and from London Euston.
- West Midlands Railway services operate to destinations across the West Midlands via Birmingham New Street.
For more information on these services visit westmidlandsrailway.co.uk or londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk
The West Midlands Trains franchise started on 10 December 2017 and will run until 2025/26.
West Midlands Trains operates 1,300 services a day, manages 150 stations and provides over 70 million passenger journeys a year. Over the course of the franchise, West Midlands Trains will be investing £1 billion into the rail network to deliver new trains, improved routes and station upgrades. This will include 400 new train carriages across the network and space for an extra 85,000 passengers into Birmingham and London at peak times.
The franchise is a joint venture between Abellio (70.1% share) and East Japan Railway Company / Mitsui & Co., Ltd (29.9% share in a 50:50 split). Abellio is the international passenger transport subsidiary of the Dutch national railway company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen. In the UK, Abelllio operates ScotRail and Greater Anglia train services, Merseyrail services in a joint venture with Serco and buses through Abellio London. For more information visit www.abellio.com
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