Media centre

Tuesday 3 Nov 2015

Visitors to Network Rail stations help raise £250,000 for Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal

Passengers and visitors at London’s biggest and busiest railway stations have been praised for their generosity after helping to raise a tremendous £250,000* in support of the Royal British Legion’s (RBL) Poppy Day appeal.

As part of the RBL’s London and City Poppy Days appeal, volunteer collectors shook their collection buckets in Network Rail’s nine managed stations in London including King’s Cross, Paddington, Victoria and Waterloo. Collectors were also out in force at other Network Rail stations across Britain, including Bristol Temple Meads and Edinburgh Waverley.

Phil Hufton, Network Rail’s managing director of network operations, said: “Network Rail has long supported the work of the Royal British Legion and proudly welcomes volunteer collectors and military personnel into our stations. On behalf of the Royal British Legion, we would like to thank our passengers and station visitors for their generous contributions to this important cause.”

Visitors to London King’s Cross station were greeted by a 5m wide poppy, beneath which the Spitfires Choir and Army Air Corps military band entertained the crowds during the day. Other military bands played at London Paddington, Victoria and Waterloo stations.

At London Victoria, visitors were able to support the Poppy Day appeal at the free exhibition celebrating the vital role played by the railway during the First World War. Created by the Rail Delivery Group, which represents Network Rail and the train operating companies, the exhibition tells the story of the rail industry and its workers contribution to the war effort as well as providing the opportunity to support the RBL’s Everyman Remembered project. The exhibition can be seen at the station until Remembrance Sunday (8 November). It will then be on display at Manchester Piccadilly station from 10- 29 November.

The railway industry further supported the Poppy Appeal through the provision of free travel to volunteer collectors. Available on the City Poppy Days, as well as the days either side, the free travel guarantees that volunteers can make collections for the whole day.

 City Poppy Days are being held in Birmingham and Manchester this week where, again, volunteer collectors and military bands will be found in Network Rail managed stations. 

* More than £250,000 was raised at Cannon Street, Charing Cross, Euston, Liverpool Street, London, Bridge, King’s Cross, Paddington, Victoria, Waterloo stations. Volunteer collectors were present in both the Network Rail and TfL tube stations at these locations.