Passengers and visitors to London’s busiest railway stations were thanked for their generosity after supporting the Royal British Legion’s (RBL) Poppy Day appeal on Thursday 30 October, known as London Poppy Day.

Around 3,000 armed forces personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army, and RAF, alongside volunteer collectors, shook collection buckets at 12 Network Rail-managed stations, including Waterloo, Paddington, and Victoria. Collectors also visited stations across the UK, such as Bristol Temple Meads and Edinburgh Waverley.

Fundraising efforts were boosted by barrister and broadcaster Rob Rinder, who joined the Royal Marines abseil team at Waterloo station to officially launch London Poppy Day 2025, highlighting the capital’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community. Military bands and choirs performed at stations throughout London, entertaining travellers while encouraging donations.

Malcolm Pitt, head of customer experience and accessibility at Network Rail, said: “Network Rail has long supported the Royal British Legion and proudly welcomes volunteer collectors and military personnel into our stations. We thank our passengers and visitors for their generous contributions to this important cause.”

Volunteer collectors will remain at Network Rail-managed stations over the coming week to continue raising funds for the RBL’s London and City Poppy Days. The railway industry is supporting them with free travel to and from any station on the network between 29 and 31 October, enabling collectors to fundraise throughout the day.

Additional activity is planned for Armistice Day on Tuesday 11 November, including at London Paddington station when poppy wreaths from across the Great Western Railway network will arrive on designated trains as part of Poppies to Paddington. Marking its 200th year, the rail network’s commemoration will also recognise its vital role during times of conflict.

Image: Network Rail