Thameslink staff and Bedford residents Anna Pugh and Rachel Hodgson have teamed up to create a free book exchange at the station for both passengers and staff.

The scheme is being launched on Friday 23rd March 2018 at 9:30 am by Bedfords best-selling author, Ruth Hogan. Her debut work, The Keeper Of Lost Things, sold over half a million copies in over 30 countries.

Anna Pugh came up with the idea with her friend Rachel Hodgson whilst discussing what to do with their full bookshelves. Rachel asked the Bedford station team what they thought of the idea.

The bookcases will be placed close to the ticket gates. Passengers are allowed to pick up a book, as long as they replace it with one of their own.

What did the officials say?

Rachel said: “I’ve seen book exchanges at a number of other stations and through what a great thing that would be for Bedford. The station staff jumped at the idea.”

Platform supervisor Trudy Habgood has been ‘full-steam’ putting the proposal into action ever since. She’s sourced three bookcases and given them a lick of paint and collected still more books from other staff and some of the regulars who travel through the station. Thameslink Lost Property has really come up trumps with unclaimed good reads left behind on trains.

Trudy said: “I have long thought it would be a good idea to set up a book exchange for our passengers. Rachel’s suggestion made perfect sense.”

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