​Welwyn Garden City makes shortlist in public vote to find Britain’s favourite railway station

• This week the British public will vote for their favourite railway station in the World Cup of Stations 2020
• Welwyn Garden City has made the shortlist of 48 stations which will compete head to head in the online poll
• Stations and staff have been playing a key role supporting Britain’s recovery from COVID-19
• In the regional stage, Welwyn Garden City will be up against “local rival” Cambridge

The people of Hertfordshire are being urged to get behind Welwyn Garden City station this week as it competes in an online poll to be crowned winner of the 2020 World Cup of Stations.

With sports fans having been denied their usual fix during much of the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Cup of Stations, returning for its second year, will give Hertfordshire communities a chance to cheer on the station that represents their county in the top-flight of social media polling.

The competition will see 48 stations, large and small, representing each region of the country to compete in a series of online polls starting today [12 October]. Regional and national heats are sure to stoke rivalries. By Friday, the competition will have been whittled down to a final four, with one of Britain’s 2,579 railway stations named the nation’s favourite on Friday evening.

A Cinderella story unfolded last year when Huddersfield saw off competition from some of the country’s biggest and busiest stations, including nearby juggernaut Leeds. Welwyn Garden City will look to repeat the giant-killing trick this year as they start out in the Eastern regional group stages against local rivals Cambridge.

Karen Sherwin, Great Northern’s Station Manager at Welwyn Garden City, said: “Cambridge are a big side and we expect a physical challenge, but we’re in great shape and we know that with the fans behind us, we can go far. We wouldn’t be the successful community hub we are today without the legendary ‘All Aboarders’ who look after our magnificent flower displays. It’s all to play for this year - we just need to make sure we leave everything on the pitch, not on the platform.”

The competition comes as stations up and down the country welcome more people back to the railway supporting communities and local businesses as Britain continues to learn to live with Covid-19. Station staff are working hard to ensure stations can play their full role supporting Britain’s recovery from Covid, keeping people connected and boosting regional economies.

Robert Nisbet, Director of Nations and Regions for the Rail Delivery Group, which is organising the competition said: “The World Cup of Stations is about celebrating the thousands of stations across the country, many of which have been at the heart of their communities for more than a century. It’s also about recognising the friendly local faces who have kept key workers moving throughout the pandemic. As Britain gets moving again, their role in supporting local businesses and spreading opportunity is more important than ever.”

Welwyn’s new kit has proven popular with fans - the recent major makeover, in partnership with the Railway Heritage Trust and Network Rail, brought in a refurbished footbridge and waiting rooms, a new accessible toilet, state-of-the art information screens and bright new plant displays. The smart new look is part of Govia Thameslink Railway’s multimillion-pound programme of station improvements, many suggested by local passengers and communities, covering over 250 stations.

Karen’s station squad and back-room staff are all focussed on ensuring fans can travel with confidence during the Covid-19 pandemic, with an intensive cleaning regime, support for social distancing and promotion of face-covering. The station will also look to capitalise on its collaboration with the Howard Centre, preserving access to the ticket office in the shopping centre even when shops were closed owing to coronavirus restrictions.

Post-match analysis will take place at the end of each day of voting led by a bevy of railway experts and station enthusiasts.

Historian and presenter of UKTV’s “The Architecture The Railways Built” Tim Dunn said: “Station-fans, assemble: it’s time to do battle. Pick your station but pick it well – ‘cause this is a game of 48 sides and 200+ platforms, yet only one can return triumphant and take home that much-coveted trophy. Your local station squad needs you – so don’t stand silent in the sidings, get out of that waiting room and cheer loud on social media platforms. My tip for chuffing to the top of the championships is old-timer Glasgow Queen Street - back on the pitch with a new spring in its step for 2020."

ENDS

Notes

• Twitter polls will be hosted on the twitter page of the Rail Delivery Group - @RailDeliveryGrp
• The Rail Delivery Group represents the rail industry including train operating companies and Network Rail.
• The structure of the competition is explained in the diagram attached. 

The full list of stations competing in World Cup of Stations 2020 is as follows: