The awards were set up to bring the industry from across the UK and Ireland together to celebrate transport excellence and are supported by the Department for Transport, the Highways Agency, and the Local Transport Planning Network.

Flint station, a Grade II listed building, was named station of the year as it has 'risen to the challenges of delivering improvements and making real differences to the transport system for the benefit of the people who use it'.

The station was given a £1 million refurbishment in February last year, which included treatment of dry rot, an overhaul of the roof and floor timbers and modernisation of the ticket office and waiting areas.

New disabled and staff toilets were installed and the windows, doors and fireplaces were restored. Electronic display timetables and CCTV was also fitted.

This followed the introduction of the 'footplate' sculpture, which caused some controversy when it was first set up outside the station in 1999, but has come to be seen as a landmark in the town.

Travellers could also see further improvements made to the station within the next two years, as part of a £1.8 million regeneration project in Flint town centre. Community leaders say they are delighted with the achievement, which is the latest in a string of positive developments in the town.

Supermarket giant Sainsbury's opened a new store on the town's retail park last month and a major new office building, which could provide hundreds of new jobs in the area, is also in the pipeline. Flint Castle ward councillor Ian Roberts said: "It is absolutely fantastic that we have received this award and it is a credit to all parties who were involved in improvement works, including the Welsh Assembly, Railway Heritage Committee and Flintshire Council.

"I would like to thank everyone involved, particularly David Blaney, of Flintshire Council, for the sterling work that has been done.

"This is a fine example of how a public transport listed building can be brought into the 21st century.

"I believe that work is ongoing to create a waiting room at the station, which can only add to the increase in traffic through the station since the improvements and I welcome this."

Delyn MP David Hanson added: "This is great news for Flint. It is a tremendous honour for the station to be named rail station of the year.
"Substantial investment has helped to transform the station and make rail travel a more attractive option.

"The increase in services to London, due next year, and the quicker journey times show that the rail service out of Flint is continuing to improve.

"Credit must go to all the staff at the station, who provide passengers with a high quality service. I am delighted that their hard work has been recognised in this way."

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