Colchester: Free train travel for Hope (From Gazette)

Colchester: Free train travel for Hope

6:20pm Friday 15th August 2008 in

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benefiting from free train travel.

National Express East Anglia (NEEA) is letting Guide Dogs for the Blind Association volunteer puppy walkers hop on board for free as using public transport forms part of their training.

Hope has become a familiar face at Colchester station, making regular visits from Bury St Edmunds as she and her walker go to nearby training sessions.

The puppy walkers look after the puppies from six weeks of age for 12 to 14 months.

During that time, they will get the dogs used to a number of busy and potentially noisy environments including train stations.

Neil O’Hare, National Express East Anglia group station manager, said: “We are pleased to assist Hope and other trainee guide dogs.

Richard Huggins, puppy walking manager for guide dogs in the South-East, said: “It is fantastic that National Express East Anglia is supporting us.

“It makes such a difference and will really help our puppies get used to travelling on trains, plus saving the fare for the volunteer during the training of the pup.”