A TRAIN operator has launched a drive to recruit volunteers to brighten up stations.

Abellio Greater Anglia is appealing for community volunteers to get involved with their local railway stations to help make them more welcoming to passengers.

The operator says that vacancies for ‘station adopters’ currently exist at rail stations along the Southend Line from Billericay to Southend Victoria.

Funding has been made available to help volunteers with their work at stations. It can help cover the costs of small projects, the creation of station gardens and help to purchase flowers, tubs, hanging baskets, tools and materials to help improve the station environment.

The ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme started in 2003 and enables individuals or groups to adopt their local railway station and contribute to its presentation and welfare for the benefit of the local community.

Over the years, station adopters have also played a key role in raising money for new initiatives, such as improved waiting facilities or planting beautiful station gardens.

Abellio Greater Anglia now has over 183 adopters at over 90 stations across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

For more information, or to join the Adopt a Station scheme, contact stationadopters@abelliogreateranglia.co.uk.