World Cup of Stations 2024: Belper to do battle with East Midlands sites for rail crown
Belper joins Nottingham and others in the World Cup of Stations 2024, highlighting local businesses that make rail hubs vital community hubs
Four East Midlands train stations are gearing up to compete in the World Cup of Stations 2024.
Belper, Nottingham, Northampton and Ridgmont will go head to head in a competition that celebrates the importance of rail and its role in supporting communities, businesses and the economy.
With 48 stations vying for the title, this year’s focus is on the businesses that make stations vital community hubs, driving local economies.
The competition is hosted by Rail Delivery Group.
Voting opens on Tuesday October 15, 2024 at 8am and finishes at midnight.
The competition will unfold in a series of online public votes, with three semi-finals on October 17 and a final on October 18.
The winner will be announced on October 22, 2024.
This year’s competition will showcase the best stations in the country which have amazing local businesses either in their station or the surrounding area of the East Midlands and do a fantastic job supporting the communities they serve such as Harrogate, Huddersfield, York and Hull.
Four stations feature in the East Midlands heat where people can vote for Belper, Northampton, Nottingham and Ridgmont.
Discover Belper, the vibrant market town at the heart of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
Winner of the 2019 Great British High Street Awards, Belper boasts friendly independent shops, artisan bakeries, delicious delis and unique stores.
Explore markets set in a 200-year-old marketplace surrounded by historic buildings and structures.
Cawa, an artisan coffee shop founded by three Ukrainian women, Hopkinsons, a vintage antiques and art centre with a bar and coffee house, and Brew Tavern, a cosy micro-pub serving cask ales, can be found in one of Nottingham's quirkiest buildings.
Northampton and Ridgmont are the final two stations in the East Midlands heat.
People are encouraged to join in the fun and vote for their favourite station at raildeliverygroup.com/WorldCupOfStations.
Jacqueline Starr, chief executive officer of Rail Delivery Group, said: “Local businesses in stations up and down the country are proving to be at the very heart of the communities they serve, and we want to shine a light on the very best stations in England, Scotland and Wales.
“All of the stations nominated are making a positive impact on their local community, and the variety of businesses at stations is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff, as well as the importance placed on supporting local businesses.”
Martin McTague, national chair at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Railway stations up and down the country are home to a huge range of small firms, serving their local community, regular commuters and day-trippers on a daily basis.
“These businesses contribute such a lot to our local economies and are a great source of employment.
“Not only do railway stations house an array of businesses, they are vital for providing visitors with easy access to local high streets, upping footfall and fostering trade.
“This competition is a great way to shine a light on the excellent and varied small firms based in and around transport hubs across the UK, showcasing the products and services they have to offer.”
Lillian Greenwood, Member of Parliament for Nottingham South, said: “I am delighted to support Nottingham station in this year's World Cup of Stations.
“Our beautiful historic station is the much-heralded gateway to our brilliant city and a fantastic transport interchange.
"Anyone who has hopped on or off a train, tram or bus at Nottingham will be well aware of the bustling quality cafes, shops and pub we have on offer here. As a very frequent user of our station, I would encourage anyone to come and visit our great train station and city!”
Last year’s competition saw over 72,000 votes cast across 12 heats, with Wemyss Bay in Scotland taking the crown.
This year, stations from all over the UK will compete, showcasing the best local businesses that make our train stations more than just places to catch a train.
Rail Delivery Group say the World Cup of Stations 2024 is a ‘celebration of the essential role that train stations play in supporting local economies’.
The Group says, a commissioned report found rail travel contributes in the region of £23bn annually to local high streets around departure stations, with £9bn specifically benefiting independent businesses.