Staff at Network Rail’s Bletchley depot have embraced the festive spirit to raise vital funds for a local hospice this Christmas.
Railway staff teamed up with Willen Hospice in Milton Keynes this month to raise an impressive £630 through a series of Christmas competitions at Network Rail’s recently rebuilt Bletchley Lamb Sidings depot.
The new ‘super’ depot has brought rail teams together this year to create an improved work environment and help Network Rail deliver a better railway for passengers and freight services. Celebrating their first Christmas at the depot, staff introduced a Christmas jumper day, with individuals vying for the title of ‘best Christmas jumper’ and departments competing for best decorated desks.
Tom Chapman, programme manager for Network Rail, said: “Network Rail is delighted to support Willen Hospice this Christmas, a charity which is extremely close to our hearts at Bletchley depot. As we gear up for the busy festive period where our teams will be working hard to keep passengers and freight services on the move, we are delighted to spread some festive cheer and raise funds for our local hospice.”
Willen Hospice is a well-established charity in Milton Keynes, providing specialist palliative care and support to individuals with life-limiting illnesses. The hospice relies heavily on fundraising, donations, and community support to continue its vital work, ensuring that care remains free for those who need it.
Travel advice for passengers over the Christmas period
To keep passengers moving over Christmas, most engineering work on the West Coast Main Line will take place during the traditional railway closure from the end of service on Christmas Eve until the morning of Friday 27 December, when the railway reopens. However, carefully planned upgrades to help improve the reliability of journeys into London Euston will take place between Monday 23 December and Saturday 4 January:
- Track drainage improvements near Milton Keynes – buses will replace all trains between Milton Keynes, Northampton, and Rugby on New Year’s Day, Wednesday 1 January.
- Track upgrades between Watford and Milton Keynes – an amended service will be in place from Wednesday 1 January to Saturday 4 January.
Christmas rail works affecting journeys into London Paddington and London St Pancras stations, mean more passengers are expected to travel through London Euston over the festive period. For a smoother journey, passengers travelling to or from Euston on the West Coast Main Line, are advised to travel before Tuesday 24 December or after Thursday 2 January.
Passengers are advised to plan their journeys and visit www.nationalrail.co.uk to check before they travel.
Image credit: Network Rail
