Schoolgirl’s birthday card design gets supersized as part of Portway Park & Ride station celebrations

Nine-year-old Amelie presented a poster-sized version of her card to West of England Mayor Dan Norris during a special event at the station today.

Her design, which also features in a poster at the station, includes a GWR-coloured Portway Park & Ride train being wished a happy birthday by a celebration train complete with party hat and party blower.

Amelie, who attends Shirehampton Primary School, said:

“It feels really nice to have my design on a poster because I haven’t won anything like this before. My Year 5 teacher was really proud of me when I told her. I couldn’t believe it when I was told I’d won!”

The birthday card competition was promoted by Severnside Community Rail Partnership. Runners-up were Gurtaj Singh and Jasmine Warren, both from Avonmouth Primary School, and Luke Monks, from Kingsweston School.

Portway Park & Ride officially opened on 1 August last year – becoming the first station to open in Bristol in almost a century.

Regular services now run from the accessible, single-platform station seven days a week along the Severn Beach railway line, taking passengers into the city centre of Bristol in just 24 minutes.

West of England Mayor Dan Norris said:

“I was delighted to accept Amelie’s fabulous card marking the first birthday of Portway Park & Ride station.

“Investment in rail is key to unlocking the growth potential of the region. My West of England Mayoral Combined Authority is making huge progress with GWR, Network Rail and other partners to invest more than £200 million in more frequent rail services and new and improved stations - with Ashley Down Station coming very soon.”

GWR Flagship Station Manager for the Bristol area, Alex Hills, said:

“Amelie’s birthday card design really is terrific and we’re delighted to have it on display at the station. Portway Park & Ride has been a popular new addition, offer customers regular trains to and from Bristol Temple Meads twice an hour with a journey time of 25 minutes.

“Situated alongside the M5, it offers a great alternative for those travelling into Bristol city centre or wanting to connect with the wider rail network.”

It will also support local growth by improving access to the Avonmouth and Temple Quarter Enterprise Zones, which are expected to create 31,000 new jobs by 2050.

Network Rail senior sponsor Matt Nobbs said:

“We love the creativity of Amelie’s design and are proud to see the community celebrating Portway Park & Ride’s one-year anniversary with us.

“As the first station to open in Bristol since 1927, Portway Park & Ride represents the latest development in our efforts to transform rail travel for our passengers in and around Bristol and the wider West of England area. The station helps to further connect communities served by the Severn Beach line and is a fantastic sustainable travel option for those who use it for leisure or commuting to and from work.

“We hope that passengers enjoy seeing Amelie’s birthday card as they’re waiting for their trains and extend our congratulations to her for winning the competition.”

The Portway Park & Ride station project was led by Bristol City Council working with the West of England Combined Authority, Network Rail, GWR and the Department for Transport.