Basildon station turns 40

Basildon station turned 40 yesterday (November 25), and c2c staff held a party during the morning rush hour. They handed out free birthday cake and chocolates to more than 500 commuters, to celebrate 40 years since the first passenger trains ran at Basildon station on November 25 1974.

More than 2.8 million passengers used Basildon station in 2013, making it one of the top 200 busiest railway stations in the UK.

• For more on this story, see RAIL 763, published on December 10