Could Okehampton be Britain’s most life-changing station?

Railway stations across West Devon and the Dartmoor area could be in the running to be named Britain’s most life-changing station.

The annual World Cup of Stations returns this year, marking 200 years since the birth of the modern railway.

Organised by the Rail Delivery Group, the competition is part of Railway 200, a year-long celebration marking two centuries since the birth of the modern railway.

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It celebrates stations that have made a real difference to people’s lives, from moments of hope and heroism to new beginnings.

Residents are being invited to nominate their favourite stations, including Okehampton, Bere Alston, and other stops across Dartmoor and West Devon.

Organisers are seeking real-life stories that show how a station has shaped a community or changed someone’s life.

Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair and CEO of Rail Delivery Group, said: “The World Cup of Stations is celebrating the stations that have truly made a difference in people’s lives. Cromford Station is a great example – its place in British music history and its restoration by the local community shows how stations can become much more than transport hubs.

"As we mark 200 years of railway history, we want to hear the incredible stories behind the stations that continue to bring people and communities together.”

Once nominations close, a judging panel made up of historians, industry leaders and public figures will select 20 stations to go through to a public vote this October.

The nomination phase closes today, 22 August 2025, so anyone with a story to share is urged to submit it immediately. Public voting will run from 13 to 17 October, with the station receiving the most votes crowned the winner.

Stories can be big or small, from life-changing journeys to moments of everyday inspiration.

For more information and to submit a nomination, visit the competition’s website.