"The Leader" Wednesday 18th
August 1999
RAIL MILESTONE.
CAMPAIGNERS for the restoration of the run-down
railway station at Carforth have re-opened one of the platform rooms for the first time in
20 years.
At the official opening, the chairman of Carnforth Station and Railway Trust. Peter Yates,
described it as a "milestone" in the station's history.
"It's the first time there has been a presence on this station for 20 years," he
said.
Also unveiled was a plaque to mark the station's claim to fame as the setting for the
classic British film Brief Encounter.
The room will serve as a tourist information centre and will be manned by members of
Friends of Carnforth Station who will be on hand to explain about the regeneration
project.
The trust is trying to raise � l.5 million to create a visitor centre, shops and the
restore the refreshment room where scenes from Brief Encounter took place.
It has amassed half a million pounds so far and is awaiting decisions from other funding
bodies,
Mr Yates said: "I came down here this morning for about half an hour and picked up
�13 in donations. They were from visitors from Victoria in Australia and Sidcup in Kent
who had come here just to see the station.
"That shows the kind of national and international interest there is in our
station." He added: "We want to get this place back to how it was and opened for
the new millennium. It's only 15 miles from the Lake District and only one mile from the
motorway.
"People could park here, use our facilities and then get on the train. This would get
cars off the roads and ease the traffic problems in Cumbria and the Lake District."
Also at the opening was Coun June Ashworth, the chair of tourism services at Lancaster
City Council. She said: "We are very committed to Carnforth station and the town of
Carnforth. If the station gets the regeneration it would regenerate the whole town."
"The Leader" Wednesday 18th August
1999
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