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| Verdict on UK's best rail station | Verdict on UK's best rail station |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| The station has benefited from £2m worth of investment By Brendon Williams BBC News | The station has benefited from £2m worth of investment By Brendon Williams BBC News |
| The last time I saw Flint railway station, in 2002, I would have found it hard to believe that one day it would be voted the UK's best. | |
| Six years later, it has benefited from a £2m facelift and now boasts a tidy, welcoming waiting room - with a heater for those damp winter, even summer days. | |
| It has been named UK Station of the Year at the National Transport Awards in London, and, credit where it's due, this is a different station to the one I saw six years ago. | It has been named UK Station of the Year at the National Transport Awards in London, and, credit where it's due, this is a different station to the one I saw six years ago. |
| The refurbishment is thanks to a partnership including Flintshire council, Network Rail, Arriva Trains Wales and the Railway Heritage Trust. | The refurbishment is thanks to a partnership including Flintshire council, Network Rail, Arriva Trains Wales and the Railway Heritage Trust. |
| I visited the station to ask passengers for their verdict. | I visited the station to ask passengers for their verdict. |
| Seriously, best in the UK - are you having a laugh? Leanne Pierce, passenger, with Thomas Bay | Seriously, best in the UK - are you having a laugh? Leanne Pierce, passenger, with Thomas Bay |
| Leanne Pierce, 18, who uses the service from Wrexham every day, said: "There's nowhere to get anything to eat or drink, and you can't risk going into town in case you miss your train. | Leanne Pierce, 18, who uses the service from Wrexham every day, said: "There's nowhere to get anything to eat or drink, and you can't risk going into town in case you miss your train. |
| "Seriously, best in the UK - are you having a laugh? | "Seriously, best in the UK - are you having a laugh? |
| "I suppose there's always someone in the ticket office, so that's good, but the train service is terrible. It's always late. | "I suppose there's always someone in the ticket office, so that's good, but the train service is terrible. It's always late. |
| "They can't have judged it on the train service, otherwise it would be the worst." | "They can't have judged it on the train service, otherwise it would be the worst." |
| Customer toilet | Customer toilet |
| Since the work, passenger numbers have risen by nearly 16% | Since the work, passenger numbers have risen by nearly 16% |
| While there is certainly no buffet for passengers, they do at least have somewhere warm to sit. | While there is certainly no buffet for passengers, they do at least have somewhere warm to sit. |
| The inclusion of a customer toilet is also a major improvement. | The inclusion of a customer toilet is also a major improvement. |
| Mike Moore, who has worked at the ticket desk for eight years, said: "We have had nothing but praise from customers. | Mike Moore, who has worked at the ticket desk for eight years, said: "We have had nothing but praise from customers. |
| "Before, it was cold, damp and miserable. | "Before, it was cold, damp and miserable. |
| "We had an old gas fire here before, but now we've got modern heating and ventilation which can go up to 31 degrees if I want it to." | "We had an old gas fire here before, but now we've got modern heating and ventilation which can go up to 31 degrees if I want it to." |
| However, he added: "I don't think there's enough room behind the new counter. | However, he added: "I don't think there's enough room behind the new counter. |
| Customers now have somewhere to sit - and there are even heaters | Customers now have somewhere to sit - and there are even heaters |
| "I'm supposed to be able to fit another colleague in here and it's a bit tight." | "I'm supposed to be able to fit another colleague in here and it's a bit tight." |
| Flintshire council is proud of the shiny new waiting room and the station's new accolade. | Flintshire council is proud of the shiny new waiting room and the station's new accolade. |
| Listed building | Listed building |
| David Blainey, the council's head of transportation, said: "It was not a particularly pleasant environment for people to work here. | David Blainey, the council's head of transportation, said: "It was not a particularly pleasant environment for people to work here. |
| "And people had to stand in an open passage to get tickets. It was dark and people had to wait outside. | "And people had to stand in an open passage to get tickets. It was dark and people had to wait outside. |
| "It was a listed building that was slowly rotting away. | "It was a listed building that was slowly rotting away. |
| "But now we're very pleased with it. It's much better for everyone who uses it. | "But now we're very pleased with it. It's much better for everyone who uses it. |
| "As well as making it a pleasant place to work, a lot of the features have been retained and enhanced." | "As well as making it a pleasant place to work, a lot of the features have been retained and enhanced." |
| Some passengers, though, are less enthusiastic. | Some passengers, though, are less enthusiastic. |
| John Beaumont, from Holywell, Flintshire, said: "I'm astonished it's been called the best station in the UK. | John Beaumont, from Holywell, Flintshire, said: "I'm astonished it's been called the best station in the UK. |
| "I'd like to know who sponsored the awards. | "I'd like to know who sponsored the awards. |
| "I rang earlier to get accurate train times and the times I were given were 20 minutes out, so I've had to come and see for myself. | "I rang earlier to get accurate train times and the times I were given were 20 minutes out, so I've had to come and see for myself. |
| "I'm absolutely amazed they still haven't managed to sort out punctuality." | "I'm absolutely amazed they still haven't managed to sort out punctuality." |
| On the building improvements, he said: "I'd be happy if they tackled the anti-social behaviour that goes on here at night. | On the building improvements, he said: "I'd be happy if they tackled the anti-social behaviour that goes on here at night. |
| "But there are a few new things - they've re-designed the interior and I think it's bullet-proof glass, so that's a start." | "But there are a few new things - they've re-designed the interior and I think it's bullet-proof glass, so that's a start." |
| Pride | Pride |
| Despite the scepticism of some customers, though, Flintshire council are pleased their station has been voted the best in the UK. | Despite the scepticism of some customers, though, Flintshire council are pleased their station has been voted the best in the UK. |
| Councillor Tony Sharps, the council's executive member for environment, said: "This is an excellent achievement and everyone who has worked on this project should feel very proud at the end result. It is a credit to the town of Flint". | Councillor Tony Sharps, the council's executive member for environment, said: "This is an excellent achievement and everyone who has worked on this project should feel very proud at the end result. It is a credit to the town of Flint". |
| The award, presented at a ceremony attended by Transport secretary Ruth Kelly, will go on display at the refurbished facility. | The award, presented at a ceremony attended by Transport secretary Ruth Kelly, will go on display at the refurbished facility. |
| Passenger numbers using the station have already risen by more than 15%, and rail bosses say work will be completed on a similar waiting room on the Chester-bound platform later in the year. | Passenger numbers using the station have already risen by more than 15%, and rail bosses say work will be completed on a similar waiting room on the Chester-bound platform later in the year. |
| Flint railway station still might not make the list of top places to see before you die, but compared to a few years ago, it's come a long way. | Flint railway station still might not make the list of top places to see before you die, but compared to a few years ago, it's come a long way. |