Welfare trains

All stations managed by Network Rail in London remained open 24 hours a day to provide shelter, with many shops and restaurants also opening longer than usual.

Several train operators had laid on special ‘welfare trains’ at London termini on both the day of the state funeral and in the days leading up to it, for mourners heading to view the lying-in-state at Westminster Hall.

Great Western Railway left a train overnight at Paddington’s Platform One from Wednesday September 14. On the first night, fewer than ten passengers were on board each hour. But on the Saturday night, GWR recorded 83 passengers between 0200 and 0300, rising to 105 passengers between 0400 and 0500. Tea and coffee were provided.

GWR also ran throughout the night between Paddington and Reading from Wednesday September 14 until the wires came down on Monday September 19. For the first days, it ran one train an hour, increasing to two an hour each way over the weekend.

South Western Railway had a similar welfare train at Waterloo. Spokesman Steve Harris said a total of 418 people used the train over four nights. Customers were offered bottled water.

Southeastern offered what it called ‘rest and recover trains’. It said around 500 passengers in total had used them, with staff making tea and coffee, and offering biscuits. Foil blankets were also handed out.

A spokesman said: “We recognised that some passengers may only have had the opportunity to pay their respect to Her Majesty the Queen late into the night. We are pleased that more than 500 mourners have used our welfare trains - a safe and warm place to rest, with toilet and refreshment facilities.”

Passenger Catt McCarthy tweeted: “Thank you for providing us warmth and shelter for the night while we waited for our time slot to visit the Queen lying in state. The hot drinks and caterpillar cake were very much appreciated.”

Govia Thameslink Railway said it had a welfare train stationed at Victoria “as a back-up”, but did not need to use it.