Two North Yorkshire railway stations make World Cup top 20
Will Atherton
15 October 2025

Two of North Yorkshire’s best-loved and most picturesque railway stations have reached the top 20 in the ‘World Cup of Stations’, an annual competition ran by National Rail.

Ribblehead Station, situated at the feet of the famous ‘Three Peaks’ in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and York Station, located at the heart of Yorkshire’s most historic city, are the two stations which remain in the competition.

The winner of the award will recieve the honour of being named a ‘Life Changing Station’ by National Rail, with last year’s title going to Maghull Station in Merseyside.

Speaking about the importance of the award, historian Alice Loxton said: “Britain’s railway stations are so much more than bricks and mortar — they are places where history and everyday life meet.

“The World Cup of Stations is a wonderful way to celebrate that legacy, and I’m delighted to see the public getting involved in choosing the stations that have truly changed lives.”

330 stations were initially nominated for this year’s competition, and a panel of industry experts, public figures and historians have now determined the top 20 after several months of tough deliberation.

Members of the public will now have the chance to decide the winner, with voting open until October 17.

Ribblehead Station is situated less than a mile away from the world famous Ribblehead Viaduct, which has featured in many different films and television shows over recent years.

Perhaps most famously, the viaduct was used during the filming of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.