The work achieved in 2025 by the Friends of Handforth Station (FoHS) was recognised at the Cheshire Best Kept Stations Annual Awards evening on 5 February 2026.
The FoHS received a special Railway 200 Award in recognition of their imaginative programmes of activities and events marking 200 years of the modern railway in the UK.
The group arranged a series of events throughout 2025, including a display supporting Handforth Town’s VE Day Celebrations (which showed the role of the local military railway during wartime), fundraising for Railway 200’s charity Alzheimer’s Research, a gathering of railway poets and poetry displays, a train ride for the reception class of a local primary school, and talks to the local Youth Club – including a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics talk from a Network Rail Project Manager.
Their Railway 200 contribution was capped by the setting-up of a Rail Ale Trail covering stations between Handforth and Crewe. Several other Friends groups along the line contributed, and great support was provided by the local CAMRA branches. The initiative was started and is being managed by the Friends of Handforth Station. The FoHS and team launched the Rail Ale Trail on 27 September 2025, that day being the exact 200 Year anniversary of the modern railway.
The CBKS team commented about Handforth: “Ingenuity and campaigning were, as ever, the hallmark of the group.”
Mike Bishop, President of the Friends of Handforth Station, said: “This award is testament to so many local communities and businesses who helped us to commemorate Railway 200 and raise funds for Alzheimer’s Research. Having our work in 2025 commemorated early in 2026 is a wonderful start to our own 30th anniversary this year.”
Hugh Everett, Secretary of the Friends of Handforth Station, said: “We are particularly pleased with the Rail Ale Trail, which we hope will become established as a regular feature of the railway line between Manchester and Crewe.”
