Railway workers from the Wigan to Bolton electrification upgrades have swapped tracks for trowels to help out at Hindley Station’s community garden.

Thirteen workers from Network Rail, train operator Northern and contractors Murphy and Kier spent Wednesday 18 October helping the Friends of Hindley Station maintain the station’s award-winning flowerbeds.

The day involved weeding, strimming, cutting back overhanging branches, painting and tidying up the space ahead of winter. 

Sheila Davidson, from the Friends of Hindley Station, said: “We really appreciate the days where Network Rail, Northern and the contractors are here to give us a hand. It’s a huge garden on both sides of the tracks, plus our allotment, so there’s lots of work to do, and the team did a great job.”

Sarah Bull, Network Rail sponsor, said: “It’s been great to get out and work together with members of the community as a way to thank them for their patience after all of our disruptive work in the area this year.

“Fortunately, our work in Hindley is nearly finished with the station platform improvements and a new bridge built to allow for newer, greener trains to one day run between Wigan and Bolton.”

Find out more about the Wigan to Bolton electrification programme here.

Keep up to date with future news, projects, and events from the Friends of Hindley Station by joining their Facebook group.