Media centre

Wednesday 22 Apr 2020

Public thanked as stations lit up by Railway Rainbows

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

Network Rail’s station teams at Bristol Temple Meads, Reading and London Paddington have thanked the public for their support after they received dozens of pictures of railway themed rainbows since launching an appeal earlier this month.

The Railway Rainbows project was launched on April 7 and is still ongoing, it follows a similar initiative where many people across the country are drawing rainbows and displaying them in the windows of their homes.

The idea for Railway Rainbows came from Network Rail’s station teams who wanted to brighten up the station and let those passengers who are still using the railway to get to and from work, including NHs staff, know just how appreciated they are.

With many Railway Rainbows already received the station team is asking the public to keep sending them in.

All the drawings received will be put up at the stations for the entirety of the coronavirus crisis, with some being displayed permanently as a constant reminder to frontline workers for all their amazing efforts.

Mustaq Haji, Network Rail’s station manager at London Paddington, said: “Thank you so much to everyone who has sent us their Railway Rainbows so far.

“They have already brightened up the station and been noticed by passengers including NHS staff, who have commented on them.”

Andy Phillips, Network Rail’s station manager at Reading and Bristol Temple Meads, said: “We are grateful for the number of Railway Rainbows that we have received so far.

“The rainbows are being displayed across both stations and it is great to see the constant message of spreading positivity to those who continue to rely on the railway to make essential journeys.

“We would love to see even more Railway Rainbows so please keep sending them to us, we really appreciate it.”

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