Uckfield rail station could win award for train operator

Uckfield’s new railway station may win train operator Southern a prestigious community award.

The company has been shortlisted in the Station Development category of the Association of Community Rail Partnership (ACoRP) Community Rail awards.

The town was without a proper station building for almost 20 years after the original Victorian station was demolished.

In 2009, work began on building a new, modular station, the design of which has the user in mind. The new station was completed earlier this year.

It contains a ticket office, lavatory and an indoor waiting space which has comfortable seats. Shelters were also provided on the platform.

Until the new station was built, tickets were sold from temporary offices and the only platform shelter was a windswept metal seat.

Southern has also been shortlisted in five other categories of the awards. One is for its Priority Seat Card which aims to give passengers with hidden disabilities, or with a greater need to sit down, the confidence to ask fellow passengers to give up a priority seat.

Winners will be announced on September 24.

Southern’s Managing Director, Chris Burchell, said: “We are becoming more and more involved with our local communities which brings benefits to all. To be shortlisted for so many award categories is a fantastic achievement and I wish all of our entrants the very best of luck.”

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Uckfield's railway history