King’s Lynn buffet bar battles it out to win World Cup of Stations 2024

• Country Line buffet bar goes head-to-head with railway station businesses across UK
• Public poll all day on Monday 14 October
• Cast your vote at www.raildeliverygroup.com/Worl...

Alan Gajdzik and his Country Line buffet bar at Great Northern’s King’s Lynn station are vying to be voted Britain’s best railway business.

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.

Country Line Buffet Bar is a fabulous venue on the Great Northern network in a beautiful Grade II listed setting, serving up delicious bacon sandwiches and coffee.

Alan Gajdzik, 68, who lives in King’s Lynn, has owned the buffet bar for 37 years, taking it over as part of the bakery Ridout’s that he once ran in the town. He gets up at 5am every day to open up at 5.30am.

Alan said: “We’ve a network of interesting customers from a wide area and that’s what makes the job. Half my trade is from people who could go to Norwich but come to King’s Lynn as it’s a quicker, slightly cheaper route to London, and they create an atmosphere you just can’t buy.

“These are people who don’t meet up very often and it’s a very friendly, very family orientated atmosphere here. Most of my staff have been with me for 10 years, so everyone knows one another. It’s quite homely.”

Voting is initially on 14 October at www.raildeliverygroup.com/WorldCupOfStations. If Country Line and King’s Lynn make it through this first round, then there will be a semi-final on 17 October and a final on 18 October, with the winner being announced on 21 October.

Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director at Govia Thameslink Railway which operates Great Northern trains, said: “Our station businesses are part of us and the communities we serve. We wish everyone of them shortlisted for this exciting contest all the very best!”

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 begins as a new report from WPI Economics finds that train passengers in the East of England spend on average £31 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).