Brookwood fell agonisingly short in its attempt to win the World Cup of Stations competition for 2026.

It was voted the top station in the South to become one of five finalists alongside Berney Arms, Cardross, Irlam and Yatton, but it was Irlam, in Manchester, which went on to claim the prize.

The theme for the 2026 competition, run by the Rail Delivery Group, was “The stations creating connections that matter”.

Brookwood’s impressive progress in the ‘World Cup’ owed much to its Reflective Garden, nestled between the station and Brookwood Cemetery, which created a peaceful space where railway colleagues, families and visitors can remember loved ones or simply have a moment of quiet.

Developed by South Western as its flagship Railway 200 legacy project, the garden is the first dedicated location on the South Western network where railway colleagues can be commemorated through permanent memorial plaques.

Created on previously disused railway land behind the station by more than 30 volunteers, the garden also brings a fascinating chapter of local history to life.

Brookwood station and cemetery were once connected by the London Necropolis Railway, which carried passengers on their final journey between London Waterloo and Brookwood Cemetery from 1854 until 1941.

Today, the station and cemetery remain physically linked, making the location a fitting place to honour both railway history and the railway family.

Visitors to the garden can enjoy a quiet green space featuring trees, flowers and crescent-shaped planters made from repurposed railway sleepers, alongside a section of railway track donated from the nearby railway.

The garden is maintained through ongoing volunteer support from railway colleagues and local residents.

The project opened in October 2025, and was conceived by South Western Community Rail Manager Paula Aldridge and brought to life through an 18-month partnership involving Brookwood Cemetery, railway colleagues, station adopters, heritage organisations, volunteers and community groups.

Paula Aldridge, community rail manager at South Western, said: "Our Brookwood Reflective Garden is a beautiful and peaceful space to honour and remember friends and colleagues in the railway family. Seeing people come together and install plaques for those who are no longer with us has been incredibly moving.

“Reaching the final is fantastic recognition for everyone who helped create and continues to care for this unique space.

"The garden is open to all and renews the connection between the railway, Brookwood Cemetery and the London Necropolis Railway and our volunteers have helped create this space into a special legacy for years to come.

“We're incredibly proud of what has been achieved and we encouraged anyone who has been inspired by the garden's story to vote for Brookwood."

World Cup of Stations has been running since 2019 and celebrates railway stations across Great Britain and the communities behind them.

The nomination phase ran from 14 to 20 September. A judging panel assessed entries against this year’s theme and selected 20 stations for the public vote.

Previous winners are Ashington (2025), Maghull (2024), Wemyss Bay (2023), Stourbridge Junction (2021), Glasgow Queen Street (2020) and Huddersfield (2019).