The Community Brain's programme to completely reimagine and transform part of Tolworth Railway Station as an exciting and vibrant community space has been shortlisted for two national rail industry awards.

The not-for-profit, which uses the widest range of the arts, local history, social enterprise and community-led regeneration to give communities a voice and a renewed sense of importance and pride, is through to the finals for both the Outstanding Contribution to Society category at the National Rail Industry Awards.

They have also been shortlisted for the Best Community Engagement Project at this year's National Community Rail Awards.

The National Rail Award nomination recognises how The Community Brain team and volunteers have transformed a former shop unit at Tolworth Station, and the area surrounding the site, into a vital community kitchen and meeting space that benefits residents, charities, schools, community groups and local entrepreneurs.

While outside, the station make-over continues with an innovative community garden – complete with a large children's sandpit – and a wildlife area. It's also now home to the plants and instruments that featured in The Community Brain's show garden at this year's RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival and the Crop Ups, mobile allotment project that featured at the 2021 festival.

Even the station's forecourt car park has experienced The Community Brain's creative touch, having been transformed on separate occasions into a live music venue and an open-air cinema.

The National Community Rail Award nomination, meanwhile, is specifically to recognise The Community Brain's pioneering Celebrate 72: Ziggy Returns project. Held in February, this event marked 50 years since David Bowie first performed as Ziggy Stardust at the former Toby Jug pub, in Tolworth – a stone's throw from the station.

Back in February, The Community Brain transformed Tolworth Station's forecourt into a mini festival to celebrate the area's connection to Ziggy Stardust, one of Bowie's most famous personas.

Partnering with South Western Rail, Network Rail and other local businesses, this event saw more than 100 people take part in the first ever silent disco at London Waterloo station, and enjoy a special train ride featuring on-board live performances and history talks, before arriving at Tolworth Station to join more people for a Bowie-themed festival on the station's forecourt.

Ziggy Returns also included a David Bowie-themed battle of the bands for young aspiring musicians. Plus, a new street art mural to celebrate Ziggy Stardust and the area's music connections was unveiled in a nearby pedestrian underpass, used frequently by rail passengers.

As well as being great fun for everyone involved, The Community Brain's activities at Tolworth Station have been shown to have encouraged more people to use the station.

Robin Hutchinson MBE, The Community Brain's founder and director said: "It's great to have our work recognised and be in running for not one, but two rail industry top awards -- It shows we must be doing something right.

"Reimagining Tolworth Railway Station to benefit it neighbours, coupled with events like Costa Del Tol, Ziggy Returns and our Triassic Tolworth celebrations, shows that with imagination, creativity, and support from residents, local businesses and rail operators, railway stations up and down the country have the potential to become vital community spaces.

"Regardless of whether we win, I hope that Baking Ideas and everything we've done at Tolworth Station will at least give others food for thought about what can be achieved".

Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network added: "Our Community Rail Awards showcase the amazing projects, initiatives and people across Britain, that make community rail. This year we've received over 230 submissions and as always, the standard of entries has been extremely high.

"We're looking forward to joining our community rail colleagues and industry partners to celebrate their hard work, positivity, and dedication."

Winners of the National Rail awards will be announced on Thursday 15 September in London, while the Community Rail Awards winners will be revealed in Manchester on Wednesday 5 October.

To discover more on the various projects the Community Brain are involved in, visit their website here.