A couple who met on a Chiltern Railways service from Birmingham to London have enjoyed a weekend stay in Stratford-upon-Avon after their bridesmaid, Juliette Hibbert, contacted the company to tell the story of how they met.
Chris Payne and Steph Appleton met in 2015 when they caught the same train from Moor Street to Marylebone. After exchanging several glances, the pair eventually ended up chatting for the rest of the journey, discovering that they lived only a 10-minute walk away from each other in Birmingham. When it came for them to part ways at a tube station, Chris plucked up the courage to ask Steph for her number and a few days later they went on their first date and have been together ever since! Steph even still has Chris’s number saved in her phone as ‘Chris (Train)’.
The couple were married at Birtsmorton Court near Malvern on 22 August 2019 and Chiltern worked in partnership with Shakespeare’s England to organise a weekend in Stratford-upon-Avon for the newlyweds. Their weekend visit included complimentary train travel from Marylebone, a Stratford Explorer Pass and a one-night stay at the Arden Hotel.
Eleni Jordan, Commerical Director for Chiltern Railways said, “We were thrilled to have been able to offer the couple a weekend trip to Stratford-upon-Avon in partnership with Shakespeare’s England and the Arden Hotel. The story of how they met onboard our train was so unique and special and we wish both Chris and Steph all the best for their future together.”
Helen Peters, CEO of Shakespeare’s England, the Destination Management Organisation for South Warwickshire, said: “We were delighted to have been able to provide the happy couple with a wonderful getaway to Stratford-upon-Avon to celebrate their marriage.
“It’s such a wonderful story how they met and fell in love, so we are thrilled to be able to help them celebrate their big day. We’d like to wish both Steph and Chris a massive congratulations and we hope they enjoyed their visit with us!”
Chiltern Railways recently launched their new Duo ticket product which is a great cost-effective way for two people to travel together, with each customer saving 25% on their train fare. Released on Valentine's Day, the Duo ticket works differently to other similar products, as passengers don't need to travel with the same companion every time.