Wemyss Bay has won a public vote for Britain’s best-loved station, gaining 8403 votes in the final round.

The station is located on Scotland‘s west coast, and in 2016, benefited from a refurbishment which upgrades its canopy and roof upgraded, repaired its sea wall and improved buildings.

Wemyss Bay station, managed by ScotRail, proved popular in the competition because of the work of its volunteers in developing a colourful community garden, and its new station bookshop.

Recently-upgraded Denmark Hill station in south London came second with 7441 votes, and Leamington Spa station came third with 3271 votes.

Broadcaster and historian Tim Dunn selected forty-eight stations from the hundred-plus nominated. Members of the public then voted in eleven regional heats, semi-finals and the final.

The Rail Delivery Group and the Community Rail Network support the competition, which is named the World Cup of Stations despite being open only to stations in Britain.

Voting took place over five days during Community Rail Week, with over seventy thousand votes cast.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail Head of Customer Operations, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to see Wemyss Bay station emerge victorious in the Rail Delivery Group’s World Cup of Stations.

“This well-deserved recognition is a testament to the exceptional efforts and unwavering commitment of everyone involved in maintaining and enhancing the station operation.

“With its picturesque surroundings and architectural wonder, Wemyss Bay station truly is one of the best railway stations in the world.

“We owe a huge thanks to everyone who voted for us, and to our social media colleagues who really got behind the Rail Delivery Group’s campaign to drum up support.”

Jacqueline Starr, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “The love and support of stations by communities across England, Scotland, and Wales is truly remarkable.

“In this year’s competition we set out to celebrate the hard work of the thousands of volunteers who work tirelessly at their local station to make their communities better.

“I think we have achieved that and as well as everyone who took the time to vote, I want to thank the volunteers, train operators and their staff for continuing to work to make rail a better experience for everyone.

“I congratulate Wemyss Bay station for being the 2023 World Cup of Stations champion.”

Tim Dunn, broadcaster and historian said: “Wemyss Bay station has amazed visitors ever since its 1903 rebuild, which resulted in a spectacular glass roof and sweeping walkways to minimise friction for ferry-bound crowds.

“This vast waterside interchange needed a reason to survive now that holiday crowds go elsewhere: the Friends of Wemyss Bay created that reason.

“With second-hand book shop, original posters on walls, and floral displays all year, their work – plus the efforts of the cafe staff, Scotrail and others – means that Wemyss Bay is truly community rail destination station.”

Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network said: “Community Rail Week is all about connecting communities and bringing people together, while supporting and enabling more people to travel sustainably by train and access the opportunities they want. Community rail has an inspiring track record of doing just that: promoting travel confidence and broadening mobility horizons, sometimes with life-changing effects, while giving communities a voice on transport, and putting railways and stations at the heart of community life. Well done to all the stations that were shortlisted and congratulations to this year’s winner Wemyss Bay station.”