Award-winning photo of volunteers at Calderdale train station captures “essence of community rail”
A photograph of a group of volunteers working at a Calderdale train station has won a national award.
The 21st Community Rail Awards took place in Derby on Thursday last week, recognising the work people do on behalf of their communities and railways across the country.
As part of the awards, Friends of Brighouse Station (FoBS) won the photography competition, in which voters were asked to select the photo which best captured the essence of community rail.
The photo, entitled ‘Brighouse Busy Lizzies’, was taken by FOBS chair Paul Marshall and shows four volunteers working in the station’s climate change garden.
On winning the award, Mr Marshall said: “We could not believe our ears when the results were announced.
“This will do Brighouse Station and community rail a great deal of good.”
Alex Hornby, Commercial and Customer Director at Northern, said: "These awards are a fantastic recognition of the passion and dedication of the community rail partnerships and station volunteers who make such a difference to the communities we serve every day.
"From Clitheroe to the Yorkshire Coast, from the Hope Valley to Hindley, their work brings people closer to their railway and helps us grow passenger confidence right across the north.
"Community rail is central to our ambition to grow rail travel and deliver real benefits for the people and places of the North of England.
“We're incredibly proud to support and work alongside so many brilliant groups, and these results show just how much they achieve."
Friends of Altrincham Interchange came second in the photography competition with their ‘Hound Dog Blues on the Altrincham-Chester Music Train’ entry, followed by Cromford Station Volunteers, who came third for their entry ‘Some Might Say’.
You can view the photographs at: https://communityrail.org.uk/current-winners/photo-competition-sponsored-by-porterbrook-2026/
The awards ceremony was attended by more than 600 guests, with a number of awards up for grabs including the Tourism and Leisure Award, Most Enhanced Railway Spaces, and Outstanding Volunteer Contribution.
Brighouse Station’s climate change garden was opened in 2023, and is located at the end of Platform 2.
Designed to be self-sufficient, it contains bee-attracting lavender and drought-tolerant plants.