RAIL enthusiasts taking part in the Adopt-a-Station project along the Lancaster to Skipton line have met epresentatives from train company Arriva.

During the meeting in Settle, head of stations Peter Myers and station facilities manager David Gemlo-Dunstan thanked everyone for taking part and explained the procedure for dealing with problems raised.

They said Arriva leased the stations from Network Rail, and maintenance was carried out by contractors and sub-contractors. They said problems reported in future should be dealt with more quickly.

Problems with telephones were discussed, with vandalism giving "a major headache". Arriva, unlike many train operators, is keeping litter bins on stations, but is using plastic bags held in a metal hoop, rather than metal bins.

Bentham and Long Preston stations have recently been given a fresh lick of paint in Arriva's house colours, blue and cream, but it was reported that a length of fencing had been missed at Long Preston, and damaged woodwork at Bentham was just painted over.

The footbridge at Bentham is Network Rail's responsibility, and was still rusty and marked with graffiti, the meeting heard.

Station adopters must make a twice-weekly report on their station and the trains they travel on, and they receive a free pass for the Arriva network in return.

l The annual meeting of Lancaster and Skipton Rail User Group is to be held at Bentham Town Hall on Friday, October 10, at 7.30pm.

May 15, 2003 15:00