Cheshire Best Kept Stations are pleased to announce the launch of our 2026 Awards.

Nominations are invited for the following 2026 Nominated Categories by Saturday 5th September 2026 …..

Please note, you do not have to nominate your station in our regular station award categories.
Our team of judges will be out judging Cheshire’s Best Kept Stations for these awards between 8th June and 22nd August 2026.

Community Engagement Award
How are you engaging with your members, the travelling public, the local community (including other local community groups of all types including local schools)?

How do you publicise what you do? How do you encourage others to get involved with the station? Does what you do encourage more people to take an interest in the station as well as rail travel generally? How does what you do promote mental wellbeing?

What use do you make of emails, phone calls, websites, blogs, face to face meetings and activities, zoom meetings etc? What sort of activities do you engage in? Do you get involved/work with other groups locally away from your station? How do you hope to expand your community engagement in the future?

This nomination covers anything that you have undertaken between 1st October 2025 and 5th September 2026 inclusive as well as your plans for the future as mentioned above. 

Art Projects Award
Tell us about any art project(s) that you have delivered in the last year

How was the project chosen and what consultation within the community took place? Who was involved in the delivery of the project and how was the project funded? What was the impact of the art-work and how has it improved the station?

Art projects are not simply confined to pictures but can include anything of an artistic nature as well as the written word (such as sculptures, carvings, poetry displays, posters promoting the station or community, inclusivity, booklets etc.).

This nomination includes anything that you have undertaken between 1st October 2025 and 5th September 2026

Nominations in all of the above categories should consist of up to two sides of A4 plus up to six images, videos, links to YouTube etc or other documents (eg press cuttings) which should be submitted as separate files.

Nominations should be submitted no later than 17.00 on Saturday 5th September 2026 by email to nominations@bestkeptstations.org.uk. Any queries how to compile a nomination may also be made to this email address

Nominations can be submitted by Friends Groups, other Community Groups, Community Rail Partnerships, Train Operating Companies, Local Authorities (including Town and Parish councils) or any other interested stakeholder. 

Click here for details of our 2026 Photographic Competition  which we are partnering with Cheshire Life magazine.