HASLEMERE station has fought off strong competition to take home the ‘Most Enhanced Station’ award at the 16th National Community Rail Awards.

It comes after a group of Haslemere community organisations, together with the town’s local authorities and South Western Railway, transformed the town’s railway station and information hub.

Thanks to the efforts of the Arts Society Haslemere, museum, town council and others, the station now stands as a glittering gateway to the town and its surroundings, promoting rail and sustainable healthy travel, and boosting the area’s social and economic vitality.

Project chair and Haslemere councillor Nikki Barton thanked the “wonderful” volunteers, and said: “We are all totally delighted to win this award in recognition of the exceptional partnership that has come together here.

“The project started from a very small germ of an idea and a derelict shop space at the station but community rail has so much potential to deliver good and positive work, and recognition of that has drawn in partners who had never worked together before.”

The station’s revamped Information Hub (www.haslemereinfohub.co.uk) has been transformed into a community space run by a team of 35 volunteers, now open all year-round to make the station a focal point for visitors and the community.

Mrs Barton added: “For the first time, we brought together the Surrey Hills AONB, South Downs National Park, and the National Trust around the table with local community groups and a fantastic team of volunteers to look at how we could create a community hub space to promote Haslemere as a gateway destination to the beautiful surrounding countryside using more sustainable rail travel.”

Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said: “Our congratulations go to all involved in the Haslemere Community Station project, which has cemented the station’s place at the heart of the community, and made a major contribution to local sustainable development.

“Their tireless efforts connect local people with their railways and stations, bring communities together, and enable more people to access sustainable travel. This contributes to greener, healthier, happier communities, and promotes wider access to opportunity.

“This couldn’t be more important right now.

“We will be holding up this brilliant example from Haslemere nationally, to inspire more communities to engage positively and draw on their railways and stations.”