ONCE again Crewe's railway station has been vote one of the best in Britain.

Crewe has reached the last stages of the Station of the Year 2000 competition after being voted one of the finalists.

The station, which was the subject of a recent dispute over who was going to fund its £15 million facelift, is a finalist for the Most Passenger Friendly Large station category.

The facility, on Nantwich Road, was also praised for its design, facilities for travellers, the standard of its maintenance and also the helpfulness of its staff.

A spokesman from Railtrack, which is running the competition, said: "It is well sign posted with an excellent 24 hour non-smoking waiting room, on-station catering facilities and a well stocked information office."

"The judges commented that Crewe is a very good station which works well because it has thought out the needs of its customers and met them," he added.

Crewe is one of six North West finalists in the competition alongside stations such as Manchester Airport and Penrith.

Crewe was picked as a finalist after a group of undercover judges visited the station and more than 8,000 nominations were received from members of the public for the awards nationwide.

The winning stations will be announced in September in London and if Crewe wins it will receive a Rotary International Trophy.

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