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Thursday 8 Dec 2022

Christmas is a glow at Edinburgh Waverley

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Pupils from Gylemuir Primary School helped switch on the Christmas lights at Edinburgh Waverley station this week.

Edinburgh Waverley’s Christmas lights have been switched on with the help of Gylemuir Primary School.

Network Rail staff, who managed the station, were delighted to welcome the pupils back to push the big red button for the first time since before the pandemic.

Not only did the school come along and light up the tree, they also got to meet a special guest and perform a couple of Christmas carols for Scotland’s Railway customers to enjoy.

Allan Brooking, Safety Communications Manager at Network Rail, said: It’s great to welcome back Gylemuir Primary who have been part of our Christmas lights switch on in previous years.

"The switching on of Edinburgh Waverley’s Christmas lights starts the countdown to the festive period and is magical moment for the station, staff and passengers.”

The British Transport Police accompanied the pupils to make sure they arrived at Waverley in time to meet Santa and light up the station with a festive glow.

Pauline Carruthers, teacher at Gylemuir Primary School, said: “It’s so nice to be asked back to Waverley Train Station for the Christmas light switch on this year.

"Before Covid, it became a tradition for groups of our pupils to come along and it was something they looked forward to every year.

"Thank you so much to Network Rail for the invite and to train passengers who stopped and listened to the children sing – Merry Christmas from Gylemuir Primary.”