Arriving at Platform One, modernity...
THREE RAF communications officers, a mental health worker, radiographer, writer and carer will find out next week if they have permission to rejuvenate Bishop Auckland rail station, writes Duncan Leatherdale.
The seven friends formed the Bishop Auckland Station Trust (Bast) in November with the hope of transforming the dismal platforms and create a waiting room.
The dream belongs to mental health carer Michael O’Neill who, along with his four-year-old son James, is a great train enthusiast. Together with his wife Kelly and friends Ben Key, Owen Henry, Jill Ellison, Tim Jones and Andrew Everitt, Bast chairman Michael hopes to restore some of the station’s former glory.
Michael said: “I catch the train from Bishop Auckland a lot and have always thought it could do with sprucing up. I had heard about stations being adopted by rail enthusiasts before and thought it would be a good idea. I spoke to my friends and we decided to give it a go and see if we could improve Bishop Auckland.
“At the moment, it’s not a good advertisement at all for the town but our hope is to make it a gateway Bishop Auckland can be proud of.”
Bast will meet with Network Rail, the station’s owners, on Friday, January 22, when they will find out if the station can be their responsibility.
If it is, then the team hope to install toilets, turn offices into a proper and welcoming waiting room and even put in vending machines. The group is also interested in creating a garden on a patch of desolate land next to the platform complete with boards detailing the history of the station and town.
They also want to create a mural on the station wall depicting Bishop Auckland in all its glory and give the building some doors to make it look like the original station.
The first train arrived in Bishop Auckland in 1843 and there is still eight feet of the original platform left although it has become a home to shrubs and wildlife.
Michael said: “We’ll clear that platform and hopefully put up a plaque to tell people that this was where the first train arrived.”
Bishop Auckland station was one of the only in the country to be built in a triangle allowing three lines to intersect and stop at the town.
The original station was knocked down in 1984 and two years later the current single-storey building was completed.
Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman said she first held a meeting with rail chiefs and the then district council about the state of the station two years ago. She said: “It’s really important to redevelop the station because we want to encourage more people to come to the town via the train. Some stations are really nice places but I’m afraid to say that can’t be said of Bishop Auckland’s.
“I would also like better links between the trains and buses. For example there isn’t even a bus stop outside the station which just seems barmy.
“I want to see progress and the fact these people have volunteered their time to make it happen is jut inspirational. I think if the station is nicer then more people will use it.
"People should be able to buy newspapers, get dry cleaning done, have their shoes repaired at the station and there’s no reason why those wouldn’t work at Bishop Auckland. And of course, we need that bus stop outside.” Although the station may be undervalued, RAF IT officer Ben insists it is well used.
Last year 95,000 tickets were sold from Bishop Auckland although commuters have to pay on the train due to the lack of a ticket machine.
Bast vice-chairman Ben, who is also researching numerous funding pots and grants, said: “It costs extra to buy on the train so people in Bishop Auckland have been at a loss even though they have no choice.
“We would like to see a fast ticket machine put in at Bishop so people aren’t being unfairly charged. We also want the station to be manned.
“According to Network Rail, the most common users of Bishop Auckland station are single parents as they find it easier to get prams on the train then they do a bus. The station is well used but very undervalued.
“We’re not just going to do this work, we will maintain it as well. We’ve had a lot of support including from B&Q who said they will help us get grants and donate old paint and things.
“I think everyone would like to see Bishop station looking good again. If we get to adopt it then I would like to see the new look station ready by the summer and we’ll have a big opening with stalls and activities.”
Bast also dream of starting a bike hire service from the station allowing people to cycle around the town’s landmarks. The group are also calling for later trains allowing revellers to enjoy a few extra pints in other towns before returning home to Bishop. A website about the station will also be launched linking to events in the town and train times. With parking being an on-going frustration in Bishop Auckland, Bast hope that a renovated station will attract more visitors to use the greener trains and leave their cars at home.
Bast are always looking for volunteers to help. Michael said: “We are relying solely on people’s generosity.
“We’re not doing this for profit, we’re doing this to make the station what it should be. I’d especially like to hear from anyone who worked at the old station and can help us with the history of it.”
Ben said: “We can’t force people to help but I’m sure there are people like us who want to see something positive being done. There is so much in Bishop Auckland.
“We want to link up to things like the food festival and proms and bring rail tours to the town. I’m sure having a better station will encourage more people to use the train.
“We’d love to hear from anyone interested in helping in whatever way they can.
“My only experience is the odd bit of DIY, I can just about put up some shelves, I put up a coat hook yesterday. Everyone is welcome.”
Anyone interested in helping Bast or who has information about the old station should email Michael at michael.meo@hotmail.com