The region's main train operator has been commended at this year's national community rail awards.

Abellio train operator Greater Anglia, and the Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) and volunteers with which it works to promote local and community train services in East Anglia, were commended in six different awards.

They were runners up in four categories; awarded third place in two categories and finalists in a further three categories.

In addition, Greater Anglia's parent company Abellio won the overall winners award for 'Outstanding Delivery of the Community Rail Strategy', which reflected the achievements of Greater Anglia as well as its sister companies Northern and Merseyrail.

The annual community rail awards, which were first held in 2005 in Norwich, celebrate outstanding achievement in community rail development.

The recognition achieved by Greater Anglia with the East Anglian CRPs and other partners and volunteers at this year's event, which was held in Llandudno) was as follows:

Runners up (2nd place) - Involving Young People - Greater Anglia and Essex and South Suffolk CRP for the 'Use your Brain, think Train' project

Runners up (2nd place) - Passengers Matter - Greater Anglia, The Bittern Line CRP, Norfolk County Council and North Norfolk District Council for the North Walsham Station Travel Plan project

Runners up (2nd place) - Best Station Volunteers Project - West Runton Station adopters for West Runton station garden (at the station on the Bittern Line between Norwich and Sheringham)

Runners up (2nd place) - Outstanding Volunteer Contribution - Brian Jewell, Great Yarmouth Community Trust as part of the Great Yarmouth station Welcome Host project

3rd place - Best Innovative Use of IT - Community Rail Norfolk (including the Bittern and Wherry Lines CRPs and Greater Anglia) for the Bittern and Wherry Line App and other initiatives

3rd place - Outstanding Teamwork Award - East Suffolk Line Development Group (including Greater Anglia, the East Suffolk CRP and Suffolk County Council) for the East Suffolk line station investment

Finalist - Innovative Projects at Small Stations - Greater Anglia, The Bittern Line CRP, Norfolk County Council and North Norfolk District Council for improvements at North Walsham station

Finalist - Best Innovative Use of Traditional Methods in the Promotion of Community Rail - Greater Anglia, East Suffolk CRP and Suffolk County Council, for East Suffolk line hourly train service launch

Finalist - Passengers Matter - Greater Anglia, Wherry Lines CRP and the Great Yarmouth Community Trust for the Great Yarmouth station Welcome Host project

Jonathan Denby, head of corporate Affairs for Greater Anglia, said: 'We're pleased that our positive work with CRPs across our network, to promote and improve local lines for the customers and communities they serve, has led to a number of our initiatives being commended at the Community Rail Awards.

'From the start of our franchise we made a real commitment to our Community Rail lines - doubling train operator funding for the CRPs in East Anglia and investing time and resources into working closely with them to encourage more people to use the train - as well as optimising the role of rail services and stations in supporting local communities and the local economy.'