BRIGHT FUTURE FOR CARMARTHENSHIRE STATIONS

Two of Carmarthenshire’s rural railway stations are set for a bright future thanks to green-fingered local volunteers.

Cynghordy and Llanwrda stations, on the beautiful Heart of Wales Line, have been officially ‘adopted’ this week (Monday 11 September) under the Arriva Trains Wales ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme. The scheme involves communities in caring for their local railway station.

Cynghordy couple Tim and Carol Pinner have teamed up with local teenager Arfon Jones to help keep an eye on Cynghordy Station. The station adopters visit the station regularly and let their local station manager, Julian Viggers, know if there are any issues that require attention.

Tim Pinner said: “We run a local Bed and Breakfast and one day noticed that there was a problem with the lights at the station. We read about the Adopt a Station scheme and though that by keeping an eye on things we can let Arriva know quickly if problems like that occur so that they can be sorted quickly.”

The community-spirited trio is also keen to see that overgrowing bushes surrounding the station are kept tidy and Arfon Jones has been hard at work during the summer holidays helping to make sure that the station looks its best. The project is part of his work towards a Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Llanwrda Station has been taken on by an award-winning gardener. Hywel Jones from Llandeilo has won countless prizes for his dahlias, including first prize at the Royal Welsh show twice. Bishop of Llandaf dahlias are currently adding a splash of colour to the station garden.

Hywel Jones said: “This summer Llanwrda Station was awash with marigolds, roses, trailing petunias and weeping willow but it’s not just flowers that thrive in the station garden. Last year I put tomatoes there and peckish passengers helped themselves. Being as they were popular I’m going to plant some tomato vines again the coming weeks.

Julian Viggers, station manager for Arriva Trains Wales, said: “We already have an excellent working relationship with the station adopters at Cynghordy and Llanwrda. The scheme is about encouraging local people to take an interest in their local station and these groups really go that extra mile to put their stations at the heart of their communities.”
“The adoptions will help us keep the stations in the best possible condition for local people and visitors alike. Llanwrda Station’s award-winning flower displays are already a draw for tourists visiting the area and passing through by train and we are extremely grateful for the time and commitment put in by the adopters at both stations.”

Two other Heart of Wales Line stations, Dolau and Llanwrtyd Wells, have also been officially adopted this week. Over two-thirds of Arriva Trains Wales’ 190 unstaffed stations have been taken on under its adoption scheme.

Station adopters carry out regular spot checks relating to the tidiness and cleanliness of the station, in addition to those already undertaken by Arriva Trains Wales. Any issues that may need addressing are then passed on to the local station manager. In return, adopters are offered travel vouchers for use on the Arriva Trains Wales network.

More information about the Adopt a Station scheme is available by calling Arriva Trains Wales’ customer relations team on 0845 6061 660 or by visiting www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk.

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