Christmas returns to Waverley station

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Holiday cheer has returned to Edinburgh Waverley after station refurbishment works cancelled Christmas at the Scottish terminal last year.

Sixteen schoolchildren from Athelstaneford Primary School joined station staff for the festivities together with Santa and railway chaplain Nicola Goncalves to switch on the Christmas tree lights.

Station manager Juliet Donnachie said: “We are really pleased that we were able to hold our Christmas celebrations this year. image009

“Last year, unfortunately, it was impossible as there was so much work going on in the station but it’s great to be able to welcome this year’s tree and to bring Christmas into Waverley again.”

Just one week after glaziers inserted the final pane of glass into the station roof, the majority of the scaffolding that engulfed the station has now been removed making way for the 23ft tree to be erected on the main concourse.

The model for the Waverley Steps Project, which sits beside the station’s Christmas tree, has also been transformed into a charity collection box.

Donations can be made until early January and all proceeds will be equally divided between Action for Children, Network Rail’s chosen charity, and Railway Children – a charity that fights for vulnerable children who live alone and at risk on the streets.

Juliet added: “Increasingly vulnerable teenagers arrive at mainline stations to meet people that they had spoken to over the internet.

“Many vulnerable youths pass through our stations each day and we thought it pertinent to split all of the proceeds raised between two worthy charities that are aimed at supporting children who are particularly at risk in our society and in other parts of the world.”

 

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