The waiting room at St Margarets rail station, in the Hertfordshire village of Stanstead Abbotts, has been refurbished. The project was carried out by Greater Anglia, the New River Line Community Rail Partnership and the local community.

The waiting room now displays a new mural, showing a view of Stanstead Abbotts by photographer Paul Wood, which was funded by the New River Line Community Rail Partnership (CRP), which worked with local people to select the image.

The CRP also worked with Greater Anglia to create a book swap library in the waiting room, with books donated by the community and new shelving which can also be used by local businesses to display promotional leaflets.

The waiting room has been redecorated and has had new benches fitted, with the old ones donated to the nearby St Andrews primary school.

The New River Line Community Rail Partnership works with Greater Anglia, Hertfordshire County Council and other local organisations to help keep local branch lines thriving for the benefit of their communities.

Katie Goldthorpe, New River Line Community Rail Partnership officer, said, “I’m delighted that the refurbishment is now complete and the waiting room is now open.

“It looks lovely – bright, smart and clean – and it’s great that it now has a dual purpose as a community lending library. People will now be able to pick up a good read to enjoy on their journeys.”

Simone Bailey, Greater Anglia’s Asset Management Director, said, “Investing in upgrades to stations across the network is extremely important to Greater Anglia, demonstrating our commitment to providing excellent facilities and service to our customers.”

“I am pleased that we have been able to work with the community on this project to deliver an improved waiting room with an additional community use to ensure that rail travel is attractive, convenient and meets the needs of local people.”