CREWE was deemed to have Cheshire’s Best Staffed Station at the county’s tenth annual quality awards competition.

The station won the award for providing the best customer experience throughout the region.

Sheila Breeze, Virgin Trains’ station manager for Crewe, said: “I am so pleased and proud of the Virgin team at Crewe. After a difficult year for everyone, with all the uncertainty about the franchise, they have continued to deliver great service to our customers.

“They deserve the recognition of this award for the hard work they have put in to keep improving our customers’ experience. I cannot thank them enough and it is a pleasure to lead this award-winning team.”

The award follows on the heels of a recent innovation introduced at the station to support local businesses.

Virgin Trains is opening the doors of its First Class Cheshire Lounge each Wednesday to give local business a platform to show off their products.

Announcing the Awards, John Hulme, organiser of Cheshire Best Kept Stations, said: “Crewe is one of the busiest interchange stations in the country and, whilst Virgin’s team at Crewe must concentrate on the station’s operational needs, they must be commended for the welcome and service they provide to the travelling public visiting Cheshire and beyond.”

More than 90 guests attended the awards evening, including the Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire and four local mayors.

Cheshire remains the only county in the country to have its own competition for station awards.

Nearby Alsager station was won the Cheshire East station award.

Visit www.bestkeptstations.org.uk for more on the awards.