Media centre

Tuesday 7 Apr 2020

Network Rail invites community to create Railway Rainbows

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

Network Rail’s station teams are inviting the public to send them home-made pictures of rainbows with a railway theme which will be displayed at Bristol Temple Meads, Reading and London Paddington.

It is hoped that displaying railway-themed rainbows will lift the mood of station teams and those passengers who can’t work from home and are still relying on the railway to get to and from work.

All other passengers are reminded not to travel if their journeys are not essential.

The Railway Rainbows project is open to all ages and follows a similar initiative many people have adopted across the country where they draw rainbows and place them in the windows of their homes.

The Railway Rainbows will be put up at the stations for the entirety of the coronavirus crisis and beyond with some being made into permanent displays to remind everyone of the efforts of all key workers at this challenging time.

Mustaq Haji, Network Rail’s station manager at London Paddington, said: “Our rail workers are doing a vital job in keeping Britain connected.

“We hope lots of people will get behind Rainbow Railways and help brighten up our stations, provide positivity for passengers traveling to and from work, and that those taking part enjoy creating their artwork.“

Andy Phillips, Network Rail’s station manager at Reading and Bristol Temple Meads, said: “It would be great to give those passengers who need to travel by rail to get to and from work something to enjoy.

“We will put up as many as we can during the current crisis and display some permanently at all three of our stations to honour key workers.”

Entrants are asked to include their name, age and which station they would like their artwork to be displayed.

To enter your artwork share on Twitter with @networkrailwest using the hashtag #RailwayRainbows or email it to MediaRelationsWestern@networkrail.co.uk

How to take part

Who can enter:

• Railway Rainbows is open to everyone of all ages
• Anyone can take part no matter where they live

How to send your artwork

• All artwork is to be sent electronically to minimise workload for the postal service and to discourage entrants unnecessarily leaving their homes
• Artwork can be emailed in three ways

1. It can be created digitally on a tablet, computer or phone and emailed to MediaRelationsWestern@networkrail.co.uk
2. Your artwork can be scanned and emailed to MediaRelationsWestern@networkrail.co.uk
3. A picture can be taken of your artwork created on paper and sent to MediaRelationsWestern@networkrail.co.uk

• Artwork can also be sent to Network Rail by sharing it on Twitter with @networkrailwest using the hashtag #RailwayRainbows

What does the artwork need to show?

• The only criteria is that you draw a rainbow with a railway theme
• Be as creative as possible

What do I need to include with my entry?

• Include your name, age and which station out of London Paddington, Reading or Bristol Temple Meads you would like it to be displayed