Community Rail Award for Helmsdale station company
The community interest company that looks after Helmsdale Railway Station has won an award.
Helmsdale Station CIC was placed third in the ‘Influencing Positive Change and Sustainability’ category of the 20th anniversary Community Rail Awards.
The awards ceremony took place on Thursday, March 13, in Newcastle, celebrating excellence in community rail projects across the UK.
Judges were impressed at the massive transformation at Helmsdale Station in the last 10 years with the previously derelict, listed station building restored.
They were also impressed at the £20,000 raised by the CIC for local community causes and by its promotion of the Far North Line, including setting up the Far North Line Community Rail Partnership.
Volunteers from the CIC work closely with Helmsdale Primary School, offering pupils the chance to help maintain station planters while also arranging rail trips for them to develop rail confidence and sustainable transport habits.
