Great Northern and Southern station businesses through to semi-finals of World Cup of Stations 2024

Pictures of all three businesses can be downloaded below

• King’s Lynn, Lewes and Thornton Heath all go head-to-head
• Cast your vote on Thursday 17 October at www.raildeliverygroup.com/Worl...

Three stations run by Govia Thameslink Railway have won their way through to the semi-finals of the national World Cup of Stations 2024, thanks to their amazing independent businesses.

After fevered voting by the stations’ adoring public went down to the wire, the following eateries came through:

• Alan Gajdzik and his Country Line Buffet Bar at King’s Lynn in Norfolk (Great Northern)
• Jaqueline Elsey and Pawel Szala of Runaway Café at Lewes in East Sussex (Southern)
• Tracy Scott and Tweng Tweng of KCK Jamaican takeaway at Thornton Heath in London (Southern)

All three will go head-to-head with one another and with Axminster station from South West England, on Thursday 17 October. The winner will then be pitted against the victors of two other semi-finals, on Friday 18 October, with the overall champion announced on Monday 21 October.

The World Cup of Stations is organised by the Rail Delivery Group on behalf of train companies, and celebrates the importance of rail and its role in supporting communities, businesses and the economy.

With 48 stations fighting for the title, this year’s focus is on the businesses that make stations vital community hubs, driving local economies.

Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director at Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “I’m delighted that three of our station businesses each won their initial heat and have made it through to the semis. It just shows how brilliant they are and how much they are valued by their communities.”

Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive Officer of Rail Delivery Group, said: “Local businesses in stations up and down the country are proving to be at the very heart of the communities they serve, and we want to shine a light on the very best stations in England, Scotland and Wales.

“All of the stations nominated are making a positive impact on their local community, and the variety of businesses at stations is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff, as well as the importance placed on supporting local businesses.”

Martin McTague, National Chair at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Railway stations up and down the country are home to a huge range of small firms, serving their local community, regular commuters and day trippers on a daily basis. These businesses contribute such a lot to our local economies and are a great source of employment.

“Not only do railway stations house an array of businesses, they are vital for providing visitors with easy access to local high streets, upping footfall and fostering trade. This competition is a great way to shine a light on the excellent and varied small firms based in and around transport hubs across the UK, showcasing the products and services they have to offer.”

The contest is under way as a new report from WPI Economics finds that train passengers in the UK spend on average £32 in towns and cities from which they depart and £7 per journey on local independent businesses inside stations. A total of 70% of people agree that having a train station helps their local economy thrive (see Notes to editors).

ENDS

Notes to editors

The new report from WPI Economics, commissioned by Rail Delivery Group, found that travelling by rail contributes over £9bn each year to independent businesses and in the region of £23bn to high streets across the country.

The overwhelming majority of people (70%) say that having a train station helps their local businesses thrive.

Four in five passengers across the country support businesses in and around train stations and on local high streets when travelling by rail. That equates to an estimated 3.4m rail passengers shopping at local businesses each day.

The report also found that local high streets benefit more when people travel by rail than by other modes of transport, with rail passengers in the UK spending an average of £32 in the towns and cities they depart from.

Travelling by train also supports independent businesses: with people grabbing a coffee, getting a haircut, or purchasing a gift before they head out on their train journey, local businesses across the UK see an average of £7 spent by each rail passenger on every departure.

World Cup of Stations

Last year’s competition saw over 72,000 votes cast across 12 heats, with Wemyss Bay in Scotland taking the crown. This year, stations from all over the UK will compete, showcasing the best local businesses that make our train stations more than just places to catch a train.

The competition has been running since 2019. The previous winners are Wemyss Bay (2023) Stourbridge Junction (2021), Glasgow Queen Street (2020) and Huddersfield (2019).