A COMMITTED train station worker who travels from Bentham to Appleby for the job he loves is up for a national award.

Manny Wright, 40, is station supervisor at Appleby railway station, where he has worked for the past nine years.

In recognition of the hard work he puts in to his job, he has made the Outstanding Personal Contribution of the Year category shortlist in this year's National Rail Awards.

For Mr Wright, the nomination came as a surprise.

"I was in disbelief, I would say," he said. "Because at the end of the day I have just been doing my job.

"It's quite easy to give excellent service because the people are just nice to deal with. So it's unexpected but it's nice to get recognised."

The station and its staff underwent a difficult period following the Eden Brows landslip in February 2016 which is in part why Mr Wright has received his nomination.

"The amount of traffic on the line just plummeted," he recalled. "It was very depressing actually because the message people had was that the line was closed."

However, despite the difficult circumstances, Mr Wright went above and beyond for customers and colleagues.

Not only did he offer extra assistance to passengers to help them navigate the disrupted service, he also looked after train staff who sometimes had to wait for several hours at the station.

To say thank you for all of the hot drinks and friendly conversation he offered, the Skipton depot had a collection and bought him a supply or tea and coffee, as well as a new kettle after they joked he wore the original out.

"It was just a lovely gesture," he said. "And to be honest that means a lot because they are the people I work with."

Appleby station itself has also received a nod and has been nominated in the Small Station of the Year category and the running of the A1 Steam Locomotive Tornado on the Settle to Carlisle route secured Northern a place in the Outstanding Team Work category.

"Time after time I get visitors saying it's like stepping back in time," Mr Wright said, explaining why he thought it was such a special station. "This is what I remember from my childhood.

"It is not like a modern station, it's completely different."

And, although he now loves his work, when Mr Wright moved from Manchester Oxford Road to work in Eden, he was less sure of the location.

"When I first came here I did not like it," he said. "It was way too quiet and now I have been here for nine years I love it.

"I can honestly say every day is a good day here. It's just so pleasant. Settle to Carlisle is an iconic line.

"Appleby is a unique place to work at it's different to work at than any other place on the Northern network."

The awards are organised by RAIL magazine and nominees will find out if they have scooped an ward at the presentation ceremony in London September 21.