Following a very successful Volunteers Fayre held in the library in September we have recruited two new active members. This now brings our group up seven members!
In November WMT refused us permission to display the large poppies on the station platforms as we had done for the previous two years. We confined the display to the car park and station entrance. It has been over twelve months since we lost our Ticket Office manager. The embargo placed on Rail Operating Companies for the recruitment of ticket office staff has now been lifted. However, sadly, I do not believe Shenstone Station will be a priority to have a replacement. We held a working party in November where we replanted the bulbs dug-up by WMT earlier in the year. They were a glorious sight to behold.
Adoption groups along the line were invited to Wolverhampton Station for the launch of the new Class 730 trains resplendent in their new purple and orange livery. These trains are now being rolled-out on our line replacing the old rolling stock.
We held our Christmas Tree Festival again this year and were thrilled to have three new groups join our display on Platform 2. Our group also launched our Birthday Board project at the Shenstone Christmas Market, where we also sold lavender bags made from the lavender grown on the platforms and Christmas cards. The Birthday Board is to celebrate the 140th birthday of the station this year. It will be un-veiled at the Village Festival in June. Up-take from families to be part of the Birthday Board has been slow, but a slight change of direction to reflect the businesses and founding fathers of Shenstone in the 1880’s and the 2024’s seems to be working well.
We have a new logo (designed by Dean) and with the wonderful support from the Parish Council we will be displaying it around the station. It is already in the two poster boards, and will be added to the planters on the platforms and the planters outside the ticket office door, as well as above the poster boards too. The poster boards HAVE to have display material in them, otherwise a fine is issued to the group by WMT. I’m not sure who issues the fine to WMT for empty ticket offices!
As a group we are still trying to get a tap installed and access to the Ladies Waiting Room on Platform 2. This is so we can store our equipment and the pallet Christmas trees, currently stored at our house. We are also negotiating to get the station open at some point during the village festival.
T he Cross-City Line North now has adoption groups at Lichfield City, Shenstone, Wylde Green and Chester Road, with Sutton Coldfield’s adoption being in the pipeline. As a group we have formed A Community Station Partnership and we’re called the Spaghetti Line, being the only passenger line to run under Spaghetti Junction. It is hoped our CSP will emulate the mighty Shakespeare Line in creating interest, funding, community cohesion and nationwide recognition of the importance of station adoption.
Thank you to the Parish Council and the village community for your support in highlighting and enhancing our beautiful station.
Jane Arnstein