Colourful welcome for train trippers

The baskets – which contain realistic-looking flowers and fauna, including poppies, gerbera, ivy and ferns in the blue and orange colours of East Midlands Trains – will be maintained by volunteer station adopter Carolyn Sharp, whose role includes ensuring the station looks as inviting as possible to visitors.

She said: “I think they give a pleasant appearance for people arriving in the town.

“It makes it look like it’s a well-cared for station.”

ELDC executive member with responsibility for transport, Coun Richard Davies, said: “In a rural county such as Lincolnshire public transport is heavily relied upon as a means to travel both into the county from further afield and to commute within it.

“There have recently been many improvements in routes making train travel more accessible and I am pleased that those choosing this method of travel will be greeted by a more pleasing sight as they arrive.”

The baskets were funded by The Poacher Line Community Rail Partnership, East Midlands Trains and the Association of Community Rail Partnerships.

And the verdict of commuters to Skegness? On Friday we found Shannon and Nathan Harris waiting at the station for a train home to Newark. They are regular visitors to the resort with their two-year-old son Nathan. Shannon said: “We love Skegness and come here a lot. I think the baskets make it look a lot brighter.”