A Co Antrim railway station has received a Highly Commended Award in the 'Best Small Station' category of the International Station Awards 2008 held in Belfast last week.

NI Railways picked up the runner-up award for their Carrickfergus station after beating off stiff competition from other rail companies across the UK and Europe including: Northern, Iarnród Éireann and NedRailways.

The title of 'Best Small Station' was awarded to First Transpennine Express' Windemere station situated in the Lake District.

The competition rewards the effort and commitment of railway stations who have worked hard to provide excellent passenger facilities and customer service.

It showcases stations on an international platform and allows participating companies to learn from industry best practice and to develop strong working relationships with other rail operators.

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Station entries were divided into three categories – Best Small Station, Best Medium Station and Best Large Station – with the winners of each category then eligible for the coveted title.

Local success was further in evidence with Belfast Central Station scooping both the 'Best Large Station' and 'Overall Station of the Year' titles for the second year running.

Speaking at the awards, Catherine Mason, Group Chief Executive, NITHC and Translink said: "This is a huge achievement for Carrickfergus and NI Railways reflecting the efforts of local employees who work hard to provide excellent passenger facilities and customer service. We are delighted with the award and look forward to building on this achievement."

Judges marked each station on key criteria including: appearance, facilities, transport links and customer focus as well as looking for evidence of staff commitment and pride in service delivery.

Chairman of the judging panel Wayne Dixon said that Carrickfergus successfully combined both modern accessible facilities with the charm so often associated with smaller railway stations:

"Carrickfergus stood out in its ability to blend both contemporary passenger facilities with the elegance of being a Grade II listed building. It boasts comfortable waiting areas, electronic passenger information systems, public toilets, CCTV, park & ride and also successfully integrates with busy bus terminals."

(PR)