A Glasgow rail worker has been named as a finalist for a prestigious national award.
Michael Cochrane, who works in the ticket office at Shettleston station in Glasgow’s East End, is shortlisted in the Outstanding Railway Staff Contribution category of the Community Rail Awards.
Michael, 52, of Garrowhill, installed a book swap trolley in the waiting room last November and encourages customers to select a book to take away – free of charge – and read while on their train journeys.
More than 1000 books have already been swapped under the ‘station library’ initiative.
The ScotRail customers also hand in books to re-stock the trolley.
Michael, who has 34 years service in the rail industry, has been an avid reader from childhood.
He said: “I am delighted to have been nominated for an award. However, it’s all about the community embracing the scheme. All I ask is that anyone who wants a book should bring an old one in for exchange.
“It continues to grow in popularity, especially now that Shettleston has through trains to Edinburgh thanks to the new Glasgow to Edinburgh route via Airdrie and Bathgate.”
John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, said:
“Michael’s initiative has been warmly welcomed by customers. And the community initiative is expanding, with local group Playbusters introducing gardening at the station and aiming to have artistic displays of Shettleston’s heritage.”
Winners of the seventh annual Community Rail Awards will be announced at a ceremony in Sheffield on 23 September.
