Whitecraigs station in East Renfrewshire was today named as the top station in the country by Keep Scotland Beautiful, the environmental charity.
The organisation has spent six months assessing all 346 stations in Scotland on issues ranging from clearing litter to recycling, waste management, and community links.
Assessments to Bronze, Silver or Gold status were available in Keep Scotland Beautiful’s first-ever Tidy Station Standards programme.
Whitecraigs station’s unique Platinum status follows even more enhancements of its Edwardian premises and surrounds.
With the help of dedicated volunteers, ScotRail has installed more than 30 flower barrels and tubs, a colourful rock garden, and handmade signs to improve the station environment for customers.
Steve Montgomery, ScotRail’s managing director, said:
“We are delighted that Whitecraigs has achieved Platinum status.
“Our stations score highly in surveys of customer satisfaction, and we look forward to the future involvement of Keep Scotland Beautiful in helping to raise standards even further.”
Gary MacIntyre, Whitecraigs station staff member, said the Platinum title followed a successful partnership between ScotRail and Adopt a Station volunteers since 2008.
Mr MacIntyre, 59, from Langside, who has worked for ScotRail for 34 years, said:
“It’s super news to have earned Platinum status.
“It comes after a lot of hard work, particularly from our station adopters, to introduce colourful flowers to brighten up the station here at Whitecraigs.”
Derek Robertson, chief executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said:
“I am delighted to be partnering with ScotRail to recognise the high standards across the country.
“By having these assessments we hope to enhance and recognise all the good work that exists and is being implemented by ScotRail staff at stations.
“Overall, we found the Scottish stations to be clean and welcoming and a credit to the staff who care for them, and we are committed to this campaign on station standards.”
Newton Mearns man Peter McKinlay, who has ‘adopted’ Whitecraigs under ScotRail’s Adopt a Station volunteers scheme, said:
“The partnership with ScotRail has really worked and it’s great that Keep Scotland Beautiful has recognised that with this award.”
