Book swap opens at one of Northern’s Alderley Edge station

A community group at one of Northern’s stations in Cheshire hopes to help passengers pass the time while waiting for a train or on their journey by creating a book exchange.

Alderley Edge Station Volunteer Group have set up a book exchange in the waiting room at Alderley Edge Station, which has reading material for adults and children. 

Anyone passing through the station can now take a book, swap a book, or donate a book at the exchange.  

The book exchange was opened by Tatton MP Ester McVey on Friday 5 November.  

She said: "I was pleased to visit Alderley Edge station and see the innovative use the waiting room has been put to. It is also great to see the station, as a whole, being cared for and that is a huge credit to the hardworking Alderley Edge Station Volunteer Group." 

Children from nearby Ryleys School also attended the launch and donated books for passengers to enjoy. 

Station group volunteer Kelvin Briggs said: “Reading can be a wonderful escape from the stress of everyday life. Reading on a train can be a great way of passing the journey time and is a great alternative to scrolling your phone. Simply pick up a book at the station and bring it back when you have finished reading it.” 

Chris Jackson, Regional Director at Northern said: “This is a fantastic initiative that our volunteers have created that will make the station even more welcoming for our customers.  

“Our community partners are the heartbeat of the railway and we’re extremely proud to work closely with them to deliver such a wide-ranging positive impact for the north of England.”