Tuesday 11th August 2026
By Bridlington Gold Radio Editor
Bridlington’s award‑winning railway station has once again burst into colour thanks to the dedication of Andrew Loxton, the Northern customer service assistant who has spent a decade transforming the station into one of the most vibrant spots on the Yorkshire Coast.
Andrew, 60, has been creating and maintaining the stunning floral displays at the Grade II listed station for ten years — a project he says fills him with “a great sense of pride.”
The station now boasts hanging baskets overflowing with petunias, begonias and trailing ivy, alongside wooden planters packed with asters, aloe vera, conifers and giant sunflowers. In recent years, Andrew has expanded his efforts to include fruits and vegetables, and is currently attempting to grow avocadoes, olives and lemons.
Andrew, who lives in Bridlington, often arrives early for his shifts and even visits on his days off to tend to the plants.
“I really enjoy watching everything flower each year and finding new ways to improve,” he said. “When everything starts coming up, you feel a great sense of pride. We have a fantastic community here who really enjoy the displays, and there are local residents who come down just to sit in the station and enjoy them.”
A Legacy Continued
When Andrew first joined Northern, the station’s floral displays were lovingly cared for by local volunteer Chris Hanson. After Chris passed away, Andrew stepped in — despite having no gardening experience.
“I couldn’t just let it all wither, so I started tending to the flowers and picking up some new ones,” he said. “I had to learn on the job. I didn’t even do any gardening at home when I started, but it’s become a real hobby over the years and it’s definitely addictive.”
Award‑Winning Recognition
The displays have earned widespread praise from passengers and residents, and last year won a Gold Award in the Railway Stations and Transport Hubs category at Yorkshire in Bloom.
Andrew initially funded the plants himself, but now receives support from the Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnership (YCCRP).
Rachel Osborne, Community Rail Officer at YCCRP, said: “We are so proud of Andrew and all the work that he does for Bridlington station. Every year his flower displays get better and better and are one of the most commented things about the Yorkshire Coast Line, with many people travelling by train to Bridlington especially to see them.
“Andrew is a community hero and is very popular with the people of Bridlington. He receives many donations of plants from the community, and our volunteers also support him in his work. His enthusiasm shines out of him — it’s obvious he takes enormous pride and pleasure in looking after the station.”
Northern, the UK’s second‑largest train operator, runs 2,650 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.
About Northern
Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with nearly 2,650 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England. In total, more than 100 million passenger journeys are made on our network each year and we employ more than 7,000 people across the length and breadth of our network.
Our vision is to make a positive impact for the North, in all we do and for all we serve. Our purpose is to get customers to where they need to be, safely, affordably and on time.
Northern Trains Limited is owned by DFTO, which took on the operation of Northern services on 1 March 2020.
DFTO currently has responsibility for nine rail companies: Greater Anglia, LNER, Northern Trains, TransPennine Trains, Southeastern, South Western Railway, c2c, WM Trains and GTR. It is committed to working closely with all aspects of the rail industry to ensure the continued provision of critical passenger rail services.
