It was our very great pleasure today to host Chris Jackson, Andrew Watkins and Graham Meiklejohn from TransPennine Express Trains (TPE) at our own Station! They presented an extremely generous donation to the Lifeboat from their Customer & Communities Improvement Schemes Fund with the aim of keeping passengers safe on and off its trains
Managing Director at TPE, Chris Jackson, said: “TPE is part of the communities we serve, and we want to help customers stay safe both while on our trains – and while enjoying this beautiful coastline. St Abbs Independent Lifeboat is an important part of the TPE network, and we hope this donation can help them continue their important work.”
The TPE team witnessed first hand the type of training and operational conditions that we work in – slightly lumpier than the average train track, and a few degrees colder out on the North Sea! Our retail, fundraising and committee volunteers also chatted to our TPE guests over lunch at the Station, illustrating how wide a range of volunteer roles and functions we have in the organisation.
Our fourth honoured guest was Barrie Forrest from Reston’s Rail Action Group East of Scotland (RAGES) who has campaigned so hard to bring rail services to our community. Barrie was delighted to have been given the opportunity to take the “helm” on the TransPennine Express Train which brought the TPE team to Reston, so it was an exciting afternoon for everyone.
Our thanks go out to TransPennine Express for all the support they have shown us, and we hope they’ll drop in again at our station in the near future.
