School children, a poet, a playwright and an artist were among those celebrated at the Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) 2010 awards.

The event was held at Brunel's Old Station by Temple Meads yesterday to mark the second anniversary of improvements to the service.

The line goes from Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach via a number of stations including Clifton Down and Shirehampton.

In May 2008, the council funded a second train on the line for three years, running every 40 minutes and with improved reliability.

Passenger use has risen by around 60 per cent since the improvements were made.

In 2009-10 673,000 tickets were sold, compared to 421,000 two years before.

But the current contract runs out next May and future funding for the extra service has not been secured.

More than 50 people crammed into the original Great Western railway boardroom to hear FOSBR chairman Bernard Lane announce the winners.

Campaign group Severnside Community Rail Partnership received an award for station improvements after members planted flowers, repainted railings, and added artwork to a number of stops on the line.

Seven "inspiration" awards were given to groups and individuals who had shown their enthusiasm for the line in a creative way.

This included children from Fairfield School, who designed and made their own Andy Warhol-style pop art murals for Redland Station.

Fairfield High student Charlotte Riddett, 16, was one of seven pupils who came with their art teacher David Otley to collect their award.

She said: "Everyone gets to see our art at Redland Station – so they can see how Fairfield High School contributes to our local services. We enjoyed doing it. I like it when people come up to you and say: 'I saw your artwork at the station today'."

Awards were also given to Henbury School children for designing Roman-style mosaics for Sea Mills station and Avonmouth School pupils who made murals for their stop on the line.

Four more inspiration awards were given out before a screening of a short film about the line.

Writer Matt Redmind made a FOSBEER leaflet, that shows all the pubs on the line, while artist Bill Guilding made a mural for the Stapleton Road station.

Playwright Jenny Davis's Looking For Obama play features scenes at Sea Mills station and poet David Johnson worked on the short film with director Diana Taylor.

Network Rail, First Great Western and Bristol City Council were also all recognised with awards for infrastructure upgrades, improved service and funding support respectively. And the train drivers and crew from First Great Western were given an award for their hard work.

Conductor on the Severn Beach Line Steve Bowden, said: "It was nice to be recognised and appreciated. The Severn Beach Line is very busy, and there are a really good bunch of people travelling on it – it's very friendly."

Mr Lane said: "We so nearly lost this line in the sixties; now it's impossible for passengers and staff to imagine life without it.

"As a result of ongoing campaigning with strong public backing that won the support of the council, Network Rail and First Great Western this service has become far more frequent and reliable.

"In the past two years due to this improved service, and the introduction of a second train on the line, passenger use has increased by a whopping 60 per cent.

"As these awards demonstrate, not only is this line crucial to sustainable transport in the Greater Bristol area, it is also responsible for an explosion of creativity in art, writing, theatre and film."