A ‘freight’ way to promote Martin House Children’s Hospice

IN a heartwarming event held at York Railway Station on Friday June 2, the Martin House Children's Hospice revealed its presence across the entire United Kingdom with the introduction of a beautifully adorned locomotive. DB Cargo UK's Class 66 freight locomotive (66190) now proudly displays the hospice's vibrant new branding, aiming to raise awareness of its invaluable palliative care services throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

The collaboration between DB Cargo UK, Network Rail, and the hospice reached a significant milestone as they presented a generous donation of £200,000. This remarkable achievement was made possible through four years of dedicated fundraising efforts by the rail industry. A heartfelt ‘thank you’ goes to the volunteer Branch Line Society for organising special fundraising charter trains, inspired by the personal experience of Network Rail colleague Charlotte Bullock. Charlotte's son, Luca, who was born with multiple disabilities, benefited greatly from the care provided by Martin House. Though both Charlotte and Luca have since passed away, their memory continues to inspire ongoing fundraising endeavours within the rail industry.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, representatives from the industry and local community gathered at Platform 3 of York Rail Station. The grand unveiling of the newly adorned locomotive filled the air with joy and hope. Subsequently, an exclusive journey to the nearby Drax Power Station, another substantial contributor to Martin House, was arranged, further cementing the bond between the hospice and its remarkable supporters.

Spread the word

DB Cargo UK’s Chief Sales Officer Roger Neary said: “We are delighted to be in a position to spread the word about the amazing work undertaken by Martin House Children’s Hospice.”

“Our colleagues are proud to utilise their skills and expertise to run charter services for such a worthy organisation and I’m sure this striking new livery will turn heads our locomotive is out and about on the rail network,” he added.

Rosie Mellor-Silvester, Head of Regional and Individual Giving Fundraising at Martin House Children’s Hospice, who will perform today’s official unveiling, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Martin House Children’s Hospice is receiving the honour of having a locomotive named after us. This is a fantastic extension of our ongoing partnership with the Charter Train team, and we’re incredibly grateful for their continued support.”

Jerry Dickinson, a Senior Incident Controller at Network Rail and whose brainchild the charter trains are, said: “It is fantastic to see a DB Cargo UK freight locomotive named in honour of such a deserving charity. We have worked closely with them and others to deliver a series of fundraising charter trains with our voluntary promoter, the Branch Line Society.”