Station Adoption in the South Pennines

More and more local stations are being adopted by their local communities. Station Adoption is a way of turning around uncared-for and unloved stations, bringing them back into the heart of the community, and encouraging greater use of environmentally friendly public transport.

Adopting the station by the local community adds value to what is already there, and helps make the station more welcoming and attractive. Northern Rail, which manages most stations in the South Pennines area is very supportive of station adoption. 

What can you do as a station adopter?

As much or as little as you like! Whatever you do, make sure the train operator and Network Rail are happy with it.

Most of our stations in the South Pennines are unstaffed, which means they can often be cold and unwelcoming and sometimes prone to vandalism. Northern Rail could not even hope to visit every station enough to make sure that problems do not go un-noticed. This is why station adopters can do essential work – by spotting problems as they occur, the necessary repairs can be made much sooner.

Station adoption groups often look after station gardens (which can just be a case of planters and hanging baskets); they work with the community to put up art work at the station; have a community notice board that they keep up to date; and have even been known to have their station gala!

Station Adoption Groups in the South Pennines  

Within the South Pennines, the Calder Vale line leads the way in station adoption, with groups at Todmorden, Mytholmroyd, Littleborough, Slaithwaite and Hebden Bridge.

Friends of Slaithwaite Station

Recently formed Friends of Slaithwaite Station have been working with the South Pennines Rail Partnership to produce and install a metal bench on the Huddersfield bound platform approach. The South Pennines Rail Partnership and Friends of Slaithwaite Station have been running a young people’s project with funding from the Colne Valley Area Committee. The project has involved meeting with some local young people over a few months, taking them on some visits to stations with artwork and the bench has been designed with them and made by local firm, Steel Dreams..
We are hoping that the bench will not suffer from graffiti, but if it should, please contact Steel Dreams – they’ve got an anti-graffiti kit now and have kindly said they will sort it out – their number is 841642 – so do ring them. They live up at Hill Top and have their workshop on the canal so go past the station regularly.

Do continue to ring the police about any illegal activities/anti-social behaviour etc at or near the station. BTP free number 0800 40 50 40. Local neighbourhood police – 436855.

There is more funding that Kirklees Community Safety Officer, Helen Simpson, successfully applied for and which is going to go towards making planters so we plan to involve the young people at the new youth centre, in the centre of Slaithwaite – The Basement – when it opens – due in March.

If you would like to get involved with The Friends of Slaithwaite Station, please email Jean Margetts on jean.margetts@phonecoop.coop

The Iron Man murals were reproduced working with local primary schools. They tell the Iron Man story by Ted Hughes, who was born in Mytholmroyd.

The mosaic at Mytholmroyd Station has been developed and produced with Calder High students, and Pennine Signs. It has been influenced by the work of Hundertwasser, an Austrian artist.

New signs at Todmorden Station welcome visitors to the town.

Friends of Littleborough Station unveiling plaques that show the sponsors of the flower tubs recently installed at the station. Below, the plaque:

The new Todmorden Station sign

Flower tubs at Mytholmroyd Station, planted by local volunteers and sponsored by local businesses are a welcoming sight to visitors to Mytholmroyd.

One of the painted doors courtesy of one of the
artists based at Todmorden Platform 1 Art Gallery

The herb garden at Todmorden Station, which even gives recipe ideas using the herbs, encouraging travellers to pick their own!

Flowers and plaque at Littleborough Station

Interested in starting a Station Adoption Group at your local station?

Contact Rowena on 07912 753817