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World Cup of Stations 2026 graphic

Welcome to our annual World Cup of Stations Competition where a group of shortlisted stations in Britain battle it out head-to-head in a public vote.

The theme for 2026 is the stations creating connections that matter.

Has a station you love created connections that matter? Whether it be connecting people to special locations, with friends and family, bringing together local communities or more, we want you to share powerful, real-life stories and nominate a station that deserves to be recognised across the country.

There will be two phases to the competition:

  • Nomination phase ( 14–20 September ) – Nominate a station that has created connections that matter.
  • Public voting phase ( 12–18 October ) – Cast your vote for your favourite shortlisted station, with the station with most votes to be crowned the winner.

Station nominations are now open!

We’re looking for compelling, real-life stories, big or small, that show how a station created important connections for you, your loved ones or your community.

Submit your station nomination using the form below. Submissions close at 23:59 on Sunday 20 September 2026.

Latest update

2025 Winner - Ashington

Congratulations to Ashington Station, voted Britain’s most life-changing station in the latest edition of our World Cup of Stations!

Ashington Station’s win celebrates a remarkable comeback story, with passenger services restored in December 2024 after a 60-year hiatus. The reopening has transformed the lives of many local residents, linking the town to Newcastle in just over 30 minutes and supporting access to jobs, education, and leisure. The station has also become a hub for community life, featuring local artwork and serving as the start and finish of the Ashington Local Heroes Walking Tour.

Ashington was once considered the ‘world’s largest coal-mining village’, with the station originally opening in 1872 to serve the Blyth & Tyne Railway - a network built to move coal from the collieries of South East Northumberland to the ports along the Blyth and Tyne rivers. Its reopening honours this industrial heritage while reconnecting the town to the wider region and supporting its ongoing growth and renewal.

With its proud sporting legacy, from football legends Jack and Bobby Charlton to cricket stars Mark Wood and Steve Harmison, Ashington has always been a town of local heroes. Now, its station has joined that legacy and will continue to play a key role in the town’s ongoing story.

Ashington community members with the World Cup of Stations winner's plaque
Latest update
Alice Loxton portrait
Alice Loxton portrait
Alice Loxton
Historian, Author and Broadcaster

Britain’s railway stations are so much more than bricks and mortar — they are places where history and everyday life meet. From moments of personal joy to events that shaped the nation, each station has a story to tell. The World Cup of Stations is a wonderful way to celebrate that legacy, and I’m delighted to see the public getting involved in choosing the stations that have truly changed lives.

Our 2024 winner: Maghull

Maghull station in Merseyside was crowned the 2024 World Cup of Stations champion, and ‘Station with the Best Local Businesses.’ 

Station staff, volunteers, train operators', and passengers from across the country embraced the competition, with over 100,000 votes cast throughout the week. Maghull’s success was driven by its thriving local businesses, The Coffee Carriage café, and the station’s vibrant green space, which has been maintained by dedicated volunteers.

The competition shone a spotlight on the variety of stations and the creative ways they are used, often with help from Community Rail volunteers who work tirelessly to improve our great stations for local residents, the environment and the local economy.

World Cup of Stations 2026 - trophy

The previous winners

Wemyss Bay
2023
In 2023 we teamed up with Community Rail to find the UK's best loved station. Out of the 1,200+ stations across Britain that are supported by station adoption groups, made up entirely of volunteers, to improve the station for their community, Community Rail selected 48 to feature in the tournament.

Wemyss Bay station managed by ScotRail, won for their great volunteers work in developing a vibrant and colourful community garden as well as opening the Station Bookshop. 

Worthy runners up were Denmark Hill and Leamington Spa. 

Find out more 

Wemyss Bay World Cup of Stations plaque presentation to local team
Stourbridge Junction
2021
After narrowly missing out in 2020, Stourbridge - and George the station cat - engaged 'cats of Twitter' fans once more to finally win the title.
Glasgow Queen Street
2020
Glasgow Queen Street took full advantage of their popular £120m redesign which doubled the size of the old station.
Huddersfield
2019
Our inaugural winner, Huddersfield successfully mobilised fans and the 'cats of Twitter' through the use of their famous station cats Felix and Bolt.
Wemyss Bay World Cup of Stations plaque presentation to local team