The Mid Cheshire Line station adoption groups had another run of success at this years Cheshire Best Kept Stations awards on the 5th February 2026 at the Crewe Alexandra Hybrid Lounge.
The presentations took place before twelve Borough and Town Mayors, with the awards presented by transport journalist and rail industry commentator Tony Miles.
On presenting the awards, Tony Miles said: “While working for Northern to update its image bank of stations, I was especially struck by those where the community, alongside staff, had clearly made a real difference.
There were flower beds, restored waiting rooms filled with pictures and historical artefacts, better information, and notices from the groups involved inviting others to come and join them.
A great many of those examples were in Cheshire.
The dedication shown by volunteers across these stations in Cheshire is simply amazing”
The following six stations on our lines picked up awards, an astonishing achievement and a testament to our dedicated station adoption groups.
Delamere Station won the Cheshire West & Chester Award
This is a picture-postcard country station and visitor hotspot that is lovingly cared for by an adopter and friends together with students with learning difficulties from the nearby Petty Pool college. More community engagement has come from the Hartford based Mid-Cheshire Community Shed who built the Steam Engine planter on the Manchester platform. The station’s popular cafe is much used by the many walkers enjoying the surrounding forest.
Dave Sutton, the Delamere station adopter, said:
“We are immensely proud to have been named Best Kept Station in Cheshire West and Chester. This is the fourth time Delamere has received this award, and that recognition means a great deal to all the volunteers who care for and support our lovely village station.”.
Knutsford won the Cheshire East Award
The station is a blend of original and modern architecture with art displays under the Manchester platform canopy. The elegant Chester platform building is home to local businesses. The prolific gardens and planters all around the station won the group an RHS Its Your Neighbourhood Outstanding Award this year. Their work included a Railway200 themed flower and herb border. The welcome town map on the platform shows that the station is right at the heart of this pleasant town in more ways than one.
Christine Skinner, Knutsford Station’s lead adopter, said:
“A very well-organised and enjoyable event. It was especially encouraging to win an award and hear about the activities of all the other stations.”
Altrincham Interchange won the Cheshire Life Photographic Award
Their image “Altrincham Library Knitters Poppies on Display” was taken by Bev Robinson.
Bev Robinson, from the Friends of Altrincham Interchange, said:
‘‘The CBKS awards evening is a fabulous event and it’s wonderful to receive recognition for our hard-working volunteers . It’s also a great opportunity to meet other volunteer groups and share stories and ideas. We are already working on our next projects to make Altrincham Interchange a more welcome place’’
Altrincham also won a highly commended in the Railway 200 category.
Stockport Station won the Art Project Award
This is a colossal project coordinated by Crewe to Manchester and Mid Cheshire CRPs, supported by Avanti West Coast and TfGM and engaged with Network Rail and Stockport MBC. The project took the theme of Views from A Train Window and artwork depicts themes of landscapes, local landmarks and destinations that people have travelled to by train. Local charity Art for Recovery in the Community worked with schools, colleges, and charities to produce over 40 pieces of art with further input from local artist Eamonn Murphy. The end result is a striking series of community art displayed down several hundred metres of the station’s Edgeley approach. Online and printed guides give further information. This brief description can’t do justice to the sheer hard work over several years or the scale of community involvement, but the end result was well worth waiting for.
Northwich Station also won a CrossCountry Rising Star Award
This station was once a jewel in the community rail crown when a team effort by the line’s first CRO, John Kitchen worked with the rail industry and local authority to turn part of the distinctive station into an internet cafe. Unfortunately, that did not survive a financial crisis that hit a few years later. Worse was to come when part of the station building collapsed in May 2021. The station building is almost completely rebuilt, and a new group of volunteers has come together to bring more TLC to the station. Vegetation has been cleared from an embankment outside the station entrance and an impressive art display produced. It certainly looks like a renaissance is underway here.
Simon Barber, from the Friends of Northwich, said:
“The Friends of Northwich Station aim to make our station once again into a welcoming gateway to our town, and an interesting place to spend a few minutes when waiting for a train. We are all delighted that CBKS has recognised our efforts so far.”
Andrew Cooper, MP for Mid Cheshire who attended the event, said:
“Winning the Rising Star Award is a fantastic achievement for Northwich and a real testament to the commitment and energy of the Friends of Northwich Station. Their hard work and pride in the station have helped transform it into a welcoming gateway to the town. Across Cheshire, station friends and volunteers play a vital role in strengthening community spirit, and this award shows just how much their dedication matters.”
Lostock Gralam Stations was Highly Commended in this category
Mark Venables, Team Leader of the Friends of Lostock Gralam Station said:
“Our group at Lostock Gralam station is still in its infancy, so to be Highly Commended at our first Awards Evening came as a real surprise and is very much appreciated”.
Sarah Muir Community Rail Officer for the Mid Cheshire CRP said
” I`d like to say a big well done to all the Mid Cheshire Line station adoption groups who work all year round in rain and shine to keep our stations looking their best. I`m so pleased the work of these groups has been recognised at the awards evening although I`d like to add that all our volunteer groups do an amazing job whether they won or not.”
Romiley railway station which falls under the South East Manchester CRP claimed the coveted overall Best Kept Station Award, the first time the top honour has gone to the station. We at the mid Cheshire CRP would like to congratulate all the winning groups across Cheshire and their fantastic achievements proves the strength of community spirit across the county.
