Progress and updates about March railway station were given to the March Society at a recent event.

Adrian Sutterby, of Friends of March Railway Station (FORMS), demonstrated how the station is being transformed by volunteers.

Work on redecoration and refurbishment of some rooms on platform two, painting of the footbridge, new signage, re-painted fencing and a tannoy system have been completed.

Future work will include further refurbishment of redundant rooms, extending a demonstration rail track, re-installing a toilet and a kitchen on platform two, and tarmacking the platforms.

In 2017, FORMS will hold a model railway event, an ‘animal themed’ event and a celebration of the 170th anniversary of the railways.

Mr Sutterby was recently rewarded by Greater Anglia, who awarded him the ‘best personal contribution winner’ certificate.

Alan Neville, customer engagement manager, said Greater Anglia had just won a nine-year rail franchise and have dropped the word ‘Abellio’.

He said: “March station continues to get busier. Transformational changes will occur including replacing the whole fleet of trains with over 1,000 new carriages, increasing peak train seating by over a half, more electrification and doubling the number of trains between Norwich and Stansted and, by 2018, having direct trains running between Peterborough and Brighton with stops to include March and Gatwick.”

The March Society’s next event is on November 9 at 7pm in March Library. Kirsten Bennett, chief executive of Cambridgeshire ACRE & Mepal Outdoor Centre, will talk about ‘The Fenland Ark: St Withburga’s, the Floating Church of Holme and Manea’, - “a unique way to take the church to the people in isolated Fenland”.

Everyone is welcome and there will be tea, coffee and biscuits. Entrance costs £2 for members and £3 for non-members.

Visit www.themarchsociety.org.uk for more information.