The street artist behind a mural of England football star Marcus Rashford has turned his talents on Huddersfield Railway Station.
As the station steams into its 175th anniversary year, street artist Akse was commissioned to etch the lyrics of ‘Lovely Day’, the feelgood song by American soul singer Bill Withers, onto Platform 1.
TransPennine Express (TPE) wanted to celebrate everyone’s “lovely day” as they reunite with friends and family after 16 months of Covid restrictions.
Akse, who painted the Marcus Rashford mural in Withington, Manchester, has created a temporary artwork on the station platform which reads:
When I wake up in the morning, love, and the sunlight hurts my eyes,
and something without warning, love, bears heavy on my mind
then I look at you, and the world’s alright with me, just one look at you,
and I know it’s gonna be, a lovely day.
Akse said: “It was a joy to work on this installation. There was a definite uplift in the atmosphere at the station and I’m sure that customers will enjoy reading or singing the lyrics as they travel on the trains to reunite with family and friends.”
Kathryn O’Brien, customer experience director for TransPennine Express, said: “We know now, more than ever, that getting together has never felt better and we wanted to celebrate the important role we have in reuniting friends, family and loves ones right across the North and into Scotland with artwork that would bring a smile to customers and colleagues travelling through the station.
“With the increase in travel, we are ensuring that a thorough cleaning programme remains in place, where key touch points in stations and on board all of our trains are sanitised to ensure the safety of customers when visiting our stations and travelling on our trains throughout the North and Scotland.”
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Knowing that customers will be reconnecting with family, friends and loved ones again, TPE is offering customers big savings on travel when booking in advance.
Huddersfield Railway Station, which was designed in classical style by James Pigott Pritchett of York, was built by Joseph Kaye and the first foundation stone was laid on October 9 1846. Less than a year later work on the line was completed and the first train arrived into Huddersfield on August 2 1847.
There is currently a planning application before Kirklees Council to give the station a massive internal modernisation. Read more about that HERE.
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