We proudly support the fantastic work of the Railway Heritage Trust (RHT).
With funding predominantly from us at Network Rail, it helps restore listed buildings across the railway for practical use in communities all over Britain.
Here’s a roundup of some of the projects it’s backed this year …
Troon station
RHT has agreed to contribute £500,000 towards the restoration of Troon Station in South Ayrshire after it suffered extensive fire damage on 17 July.
We’re assessing the full extent of structural damage before we can begin recovery work.
Nobody was injured in the fire and while the exact cause of the blaze is unknown, police have confirmed it was not started deliberately.
Severn Bridge Junction
Severn Bridge Junction is one of our most famous and striking signal boxes. You may have seen it in the first series of The Architecture the Railways built on Yesterday.
The refurbishment project, partly funded by the Railway Heritage Trust, has weather proofed the entire building.
We’ve replaced the original single-glazed windows – installed when the building first opened in 1904 – with new double-glazed units.
Other improvements include new timber cladding and holding repairs to the external walkway gantry. A full exterior paint job included the famous Shrewsbury signs that greet passengers travelling in and out the historic town by train.
Kettering station
RHT has provided more than £340,000 to support restoration work at Kettering station in Northamptonshire.
Improvements include ironwork on the canopies and the installation of Twinfix glazing on the canopies.
Kilmarnock station
The trust has given more than £700,000 in grants to work at Kilmarnock station in East Ayrshire in the past decade.
It’s helped a wide range of work, including waterproofing, the replacement of platform and first floor windows and the refurbishment of rooms to provide a book shop and coffee shop.
Spa Valley Railway – Eridge station
The Railway Heritage Trust is behind much of the return of the traditional station style around Britain – like at Eridge station on the Spa Valley Railway in East Sussex. It’s helped provide heritage-style signs on the platform.
You’ll also find train operator Southern has completed a full refurbishment inside and out of the station buildings with a welcoming new heritage-style waiting room and more seating as part of its multimillion-pound station improvement scheme.
Meanwhile, we’re working to provide step-free platform access to help passengers with mobility issues, older people and parents with young children.
Read more:
Incredible Windrush generation images brought to life
Refurb of world’s largest working mechanical signal box completes
Why the end of the gauge war didn’t standardise Britain’s railway
Love the railway – heritage railways
Meet Britain’s most remote signal box
What happens to signal boxes when they retire?
The Architecture the Railways Built – Severn Bridge Junction