Rail Maintenance Students Collaborate with Accrington Station Adopter Group to Enhance Eco Station.
Rail Maintenance students from Accrington and Rossendale College have teamed up with the Accrington station adopter group to make significant improvements to the local eco station, a project spearheaded by Community Rail Lancashire. Over the past year, these students, under the guidance of course tutor Ste Latimer, have been gaining hands-on experience in railway engineering while also contributing to the community.
On Tuesday, August 6, the latest cohort of Level 2 NVQ Railway Engineering students visited the eco station for a day filled with learning and practical activities. The visit began with an introduction to the important work carried out by Community Rail Lancashire, followed by a detailed tour of the eco station. Students were also trained on how to perform safety-critical calls at the platform, an essential aspect of their future roles in the railway industry.
The afternoon saw the students joining forces with the station adopter group, Stations of Welcome, to engage in gardening activities on the platform. They also assisted in moving planters within the community garden, further enhancing the station’s green credentials and making it a more welcoming environment for passengers.
Later in the week, the students were given a unique opportunity to visit the Newton Heath Train Care Depot, one of Northern’s largest maintenance facilities. The depot is crucial to the upkeep of the class 150, 156, and 195 train fleets. During the visit, the students were introduced to various roles within the depot and learned about the extensive efforts required to keep trains operational and passenger-ready. The visit also included a Q&A session, providing the students with valuable insights into potential career paths and the apprenticeships available at Northern.
