The waiting room at St Margarets Station has been refurbished thanks to a collaboration between the New River Line Community Rail Partnership (CRP), Greater Anglia, and the local community.

A new mural, showing a stunning view of Stanstead Abbotts by photographer Paul Wood, now adorns the waiting room, after the New River Line CRP worked with local people to select the perfect image.

The CRP also worked with Greater Anglia to create a book swap library in the waiting room, with books donated by the community and new shelving installed, which can also be used by local businesses to display promotional leaflets.

New benches have been fitted into the redecorated waiting room, with the old ones donated to St Andrews Primary School, just down the road from the station.

Katie Goldthorpe, Community Rail Officer for the New River Line CRP, said: “I’m delighted that the refurbishment is now complete, and the waiting room is now open.

It looks lovely – bright, smart, and clean – and it’s great that it now has a dual purpose as a community lending library. People will now be able to pick up a good read to enjoy on their journeys.”

Simone Bailey, Greater Anglia’s Asset Management Director, said: “Investing in upgrades to stations across the network is extremely important to Greater Anglia, demonstrating our commitment to providing excellent facilities and service to our customers.

“I am please that we have been able to work with the community on this project to deliver an improved waiting room with an additional community use, to ensure that rail travel is attractive, convenient, and meets the needs of local people.”

Keep up to date with future news, projects, and events from the New River Line CRP via their website.