13 October 2026 •
GBR Anglia is celebrating its stations in Basildon, Berney Arms, Laindon and South Tottenham as finalists for the Rail Delivery Group’s (RDG) World Cup of Stations competition 2026.
GBR Anglia comprises c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia under one unified leadership team as part of the wider journey towards Great British Railways.
Reflecting this year’s theme of ‘the stations creating connections that matter,’ Laindon and Basildon have recently installed community murals that celebrate the area’s local identity and bring their communities together, while Berney Arms continues to connect visitors with the unique landscapes, wildlife and heritage of the Norfolk Broads. Meanwhile, South Tottenham has transformed overlooked station land into a welcoming community garden where children, older people and residents living with dementia can connect with nature and one another.
The annual online competition runs from 12 to 18 October 2026 and is decided by a public vote. People can now vote for Laindon, Basildon and Berney Arms stations in the ‘Anglia, East Coast and East Midlands’ category, as well as South Tottenham in ‘The South’ category by clicking here.
Rob Mullen, Chief Customer & Commercial Officer, GBR Anglia, said:
“To have four of our stations across GBR Anglia recognised in this year’s World Cup of Stations final shortlist is fantastic. Basildon, Berney Arms, Laindon and South Tottenham are all great examples of the connections our railway creates with local communities, heritage and the natural environment.”
The Laindon mural was launched in April and installed in partnership with the Essex Wildlife Trust (EWT). The mural depicts a rabbit and is inspired by an award-winning photograph taken by Vai Meng Chan. The artwork was brought to life by the talented and widely respected artist, Dave ‘Gnasher’ Nash.
Basildon’s mural, which was officially launched on 1 October, was designed by local artist, Dave ‘HATCH’ Smith, in collaboration with Creative Basildon and the Basildon Borough Youth Council. The mural is a pastiche of images that reflect Basildon’s history and showcases GBR Anglia’s commitment to its local communities.
Despite having no public road access, Berney Arms station proves that even the most remote stations can create remarkable connections. Reached by rail, boat, foot or bicycle, it continues to open Norfolk’s marshes, wildlife and railway heritage to people from its local communities and beyond.
Finally, South Tottenham, which is located within Network Rail Anglia’s route infrastructure, has seen a welcoming community garden opened, where people from across the local community can connect with nature and one another.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
About GBR Anglia
GBR Anglia brings together c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia under one unified leadership team as part of the wider journey towards Great British Railways.
This new structure is part of wider plans to create Great British Railways (GBR), bringing track and train closer together to deliver a better, more joined-up railway for customers and communities in Anglia.
The structure is designed to support closer operational coordination across infrastructure, train services and customer delivery.
Existing ticketing and customer arrangements remain unchanged, and customers will continue to see the current company identities as the railway transitions towards GBR.
The Anglia route serves a fast-growing region, connecting commuters, leisure travellers, ports, power stations and more, as well as Stansted and Southend airports.
About DFTO
- DFTO works with train operators and Network Rail to lay the foundations for Great British Railways (GBR) – working together to deliver a better railway for everyone in Britain.
- Ahead of the establishment of GBR in 2027, DFTO is responsible for bringing privately operated passenger services into public ownership, ensuring stability, accountability and continuity for customers and taxpayers.
- The group’s current train operating companies are: c2c, Chiltern Railways, Greater Anglia, GTR, LNER, Northern, Southeastern, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express and WM Trains.
- DFTO now runs 12,000 rail services every day and delivers over one billion customer journeys across its networks each year.
Images
Lead Image: RDG World Cup of Stations 2026
Second Image: Laindon station mural
Third Image: Basildon station mural
Fourth Image: Fourth Image: Berney Arms station