Rupee’s ready to help nervous train travellers take their first rail journey

Visitors to Yatton station took time out time to paws with a furry friend who is one of the stars of a new book designed for anyone nervous about travelling by train.

Rupee the dog was the star attraction at the launch of Rupee & Sushi Travel By Train, the perfect companion for those making their first journey by rail.

Written by Carys Thomas, a safety audit manager at Great Western Railway, the book centres on her real-life shih tzu cross rescues Rupee, four, and Sushi, eight.

Readers are given a couple of alternative scenarios and invited to choose their own journey as they navigate their first trip, including planning ahead, purchasing tickets, boarding and then leaving the train ahead of a day out at the beach.

Carys said:

“I’ve always enjoyed writing and poetry and was inspired to write the book after attending one of the ‘Try a Train’ sessions GWR puts on to give people more confidence travelling on the railway.

“Rupee is already well known across the network as an accessibility volunteer and she’s really good around people who are nervous. She’s a bit of a distraction and loves to be made a fuss of.”

The book is illustrated by Donna Nicholson and supported by Severnside Community Rail Partnership and Conwy Valley and North Wales Coast Community Rail Partnership.

It was funded by train operators GWR, Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast, and passenger assistance technology specialists Transreport.

To place an order or make an enquiry, community rail partners and train operators should contact Aaron Jackson at Cosmos Solutions on aaron.jackson@cosmossolutions.co.uk or call 0800 755 5086.

When ordering books, the original sponsors’ logos will remain on the back with the book information, but purchasers have the option to send their logo to the printer, who will include it opposite the inside cover with the text ”Reprint of this book sponsored by…”