Operators support mental health

More than 10,000 coffee cups were handed out at East Coast Main Line stations between London King’s Cross and Durham on October 10, to mark World Mental Health Day.

Samaritans teamed up with Network Rail, Govia Thameslink Railway and LNER to raise awareness of emotional support services, and to encourage rail users to look after their own and each other’s mental wellbeing.

Seven local in-station cafes on the East Coast Main Line, including Stevenage, Doncaster and Peterborough, provided branded Samaritans cups to commuters purchasing hot drinks.

The cups featured inspirational stories from the charity’s Real People, Real Stories campaign, aimed at middle-aged men who are most at risk of suicide.