Junction Cafe owner Sareena has purchased the building housing the cafe that seemed doomed just 5 years ago.
With the opening of the Ilkeston station in April 2017, the footfall and customers so desperately needed finally appeared and the business now receives steady orders for outside catering as well as those eating in.
Earlier today locals were treated to train fame as a certain Scotsman took to the Midland Mainline to fly from London to York, passing straight through various stations including Ilkeston, on the Erewash Valley Line.
As predicted a number of trainspotting enthusiasts positioned themselves on the station platform, footbridge and bypass bridge to capture videos and photos of the magnificent locomotive with its passenger carriages, towing a diesel engine at the back for the return journey.
And on a hot day like today, many people popped into the cafe, just a stone’s throw away, to escape the blistering heat and refresh themselves with food and drink.
Listen to Sareena in the clip below, talking about the cafe opening times, busy days, donated railway-related memorabilia and the new East Midlands rail operator. Customers drift in and out, ordering items from the menu and asking after Sareena’s well being after she recently broke her toe on an East Midlands Trains service!
