‘An immersive experience’: Underpass at Yorkshire station transformed with striking murals
Eye-catching artwork which brightens a station underpass has been unveiled at a station in South Yorkshire.
The murals, created by local artist Jayde Bell, celebrate the history of Thurnscoe and the picturesque countryside which surrounds it.
The underpass is used by thousands of people every year as it connects two halves of the former coal mining village in Barnsley.
Around 15 locals saw the new artwork get unveiled during an event at the station earlier this month.
It was commissioned by a charity called Thurnscoe Regeneration, which has been working with Northern to improve the station in recent years.
The new murals replaced the faded paintings and mosaic which had been introduced several years ago, as part of a project which aimed to deter vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
Alison Vint, from Thurnscoe Regeneration, said: “The underpass is a bit of a thoroughfare for the village and it was just looking a bit tired. It needed a bit of tender loving care.
“It’s nice to see it looking so much fresher and we know the residents of Thurnscoe will appreciate the artwork as it shows that people care for the place.
“We want it to be an immersive experience for people, so when they walk through they are taken through the seasons. We also want to celebrate the fact we live in a very green and beautiful part of the world.”
Kerry Peters, regional director of Northern in Yorkshire, said: “A lot of hard work has gone into transforming this underpass and it is now lined with impressive artwork the local community can be proud of.
“I would like to thank everyone who came together to deliver this project and hope the people of Thurnscoe can enjoy these murals for years to come.
“We’re hugely grateful to all of the volunteers who work with us throughout the year to make improvements to their local stations.”
Thurnscoe station is operated by Northern and used by more than 66,000 passengers a year.
Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.