Next Sunday, 12 November, South Western Railway (SWR) is once again offering free travel on all its services to serving military personnel and veterans who wish to attend local Remembrance Sunday events.
Many South Western Railway colleagues served in the Armed Forces, so Remembrance events are of particular significance to them. To take advantage of the offer, which is being funded by the Department for Transport, passengers must either be travelling in uniform or able to show an appropriate form of identification.
Serving military personnel and veterans who wish to travel to the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London next Sunday, 12 November, can also travel free of charge on any London-bound South Western Railway service next Saturday, 11 November, before they return from London on Sunday.
Anyone intending to travel to central London from South West London, Surrey, and Hampshire should note that engineering work may disrupt services in those areas on Sunday 12 November. Customers should check journey planners before travelling, as other operators will also be affected. Journeys can be checked on the National Rail Enquiries website here.
The company extended its offer of free travel to volunteers collecting for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal who attended London Poppy Day events last Thursday, 2 November. The same day, Armed Forces personnel, veterans and volunteers were in London Waterloo station collecting for the appeal, while military bands entertained customers with rousing musical performance.
One of the performances was by the Wiltshire Caledonian Pipes and Drums, which was organised and led by South Western Railway's Woking Guards Manager and veteran, George Pudney, who has been performing at London Poppy Day events for the last six years, but this is the first year he has performed at London Waterloo.
With many of its colleagues, including guards and drivers, being former members of the Armed Forces. supporting the Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Day is South Western Railway's way of paying tribute to both them and all current and previous generations of service personnel.
Peter Williams, SWR's Customer and Commercial Director, said: “Remembrance Sunday is a time for people across the nation to pause and reflect on the sacrifice made by so many of our servicemen and women.
“At South Western Railway we are glad that we are once again able to recognise and honour that sacrifice by offering free travel to service personnel and veterans to attend Remembrance Sunday events. This initiative is particularly important to us as many of our colleagues come from service backgrounds.”
