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Thursday 21 May 2020

Iconic Wemyss Bay station Lit It Blue for our NHS heroes

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Wemyss Bay station was lit-up blue to show solidarity with key workers and front-line NHS staff all across the country.

The beautifully restored station joined with other Network Rail stations and structures across the UK in lighting up in NHS colours to salute the dedication and efforts of healthcare workers in the battle against the coronavirus.

Wemyss Bay’s location on Scotland’s west coast offers panoramic views over the Firth of Clyde, which ensured this show of solidarity with our NHS staff and key workers was visible locally and across to the southern islands of Argyle & Bute.

The £5m two-year refurbishment of Wemyss Bay station, which saw the canopies and glazed roof upgraded, repairs to the sea wall and improvements to the station buildings, was completed in 2016. It was voted best project in the National Rail Heritage Awards in 2017. 

The iconic A-listed structure features highly in lists of the UK’s favourite stations and also provided the back-drop for Vodafone’s 2017 Christmas advertising campaign starring Martin Freeman.

The illumination of Wemyss Bay station comes as station staff and people across the country once again join in a mass round of applause at 8pm on Thursday to thank NHS staff for their incredible work. 

Alex Hynes, Managing Director at Scotland’s Railway said: “We are delighted to illuminate  what many consider to be one of Scotland’s most iconic stations as a symbol of public support for the vital and fantastic work of NHS staff who are tackling the coronavirus.

“We continue to be humbled on a daily basis by the incredible dedication shown by staff in the NHS and we are grateful to all key workers across the country, including our railway family, who are playing a massive role in supporting the country at this time.”

Stuart McMillan MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde said; “We are hugely grateful to all the staff at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and NHS staff and key workers across the area and beyond for their efforts in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“This of course includes key workers from Inverclyde Council who are at the forefront of supporting vulnerable individuals and serving and supporting the community in so many different ways at this difficult time.

“Lighting the station blue is a great way to show support for everyone in the fight against COVID-19 and we are grateful to Network Rail for taking forward this activity at the iconic Wemyss Bay station – which will provide a fantastic back-drop.”

The lighting of Wemyss Bay station was undertaken by the Stage Group, following the clear physical distancing messages from government.