AFTER their chance meeting on a late-night train, a couple have revealed they’re now making wedding plans.
In November 2024, Steve Higgs was on his way home after getting drinks with friends when he boarded the 23:09 London Northwestern Railway (LNR) service from Euston towards Milton Keynes, per The Railway Magazine and a press release from LNR .
In the year that followed, the couple called the 23:09 LNR service their “encounter-versary”Credit: LNR
Fellow train passengers were delighted by the heart-warming momentCredit: LNR
The loved-up pair, who are hoping to be married next summer, told LNR they plan to move in together next yearCredit: LNR
During the journey back, the 56-year-old noticed a woman, Payal Pandya, 49, standing nearby on the train and offered her his seat.
The two started talking, and it was immediately clear to both that there was a connection between them.
“I’m always up for chatting with people when I’m travelling and so I struck up a conversation,” Steve told the BBC .
“I remember she mentioned she’d just been on a where – luckily for me – sparks had failed to fly.
“Although we were only speaking for 20 minutes or so, I knew I wanted to see her again.”
Payal, who is a qualified integrative therapist, mentioned that she’d met her date for that night on the .
After getting off her local station in Harrow, North West London, the 49-year-old recalls looking back at Steve – and a wave of emotions took over her.
“I remember getting off the train and looking back at him, and thinking, ‘What a lovely man that I’ll never see again’.
“Of all the carriages that I could’ve got on… it so could’ve not happened.
“That actually makes me feel quite sad.”
Luckily, faith and sheer luck brought the two back together when Steve found Payal on a dating app and sent her a message right away.
The duo set up their first date not too long after – and the rest is history.
In the year that followed, the couple called the 23:09 LNR service their “encounter-versary”.
But little did Payal know that Steve was planning to make their one-year encounter-versary extra special.
The 56-year-old made plans to propose to Payal on the same date and on the same rail line as their first meeting. He contacted LNR ahead of time so the train operator was “in on the plans”.
When the operator made a special announcement, that was Steve’s cue to get down on one knee and .
“I can’t believe Steve asked me to marry him on that same service and managed to get the conductor involved without me knowing,” Payal told LNR after saying “yes”.
The loved-up pair, who are hoping to be married next summer, told LNR they plan to move in together next year, “before it’s full steam ahead on ”.
Jonny Wiseman, the customer experience director at LNR, said his team was immediately on board with assisting Steve’s proposal to Payal.
“I want to say a huge congratulations to them both and that we wish them the very best for their future together,” Jonny said, per the release.
“Their story is a brilliant example of the way the railway can connect people, not just to where they need to go, but to the people they’re travelling with too.”
What to do if you don't find your partner attractive
Dear Deidre Agony Aunt Sally Land, reveals how you should navigate your concerns if you don't physically find your other half attractive.
Sally says: “Putting down your partner for their looks not only reflects your own insecurities but is also very damaging for your partner’s and mental health.
“With the ready , many men in particular have developed completely unrealistic expectations of what their partners should look like.
“Just like fashion, different ideals and looks come and go with the seasons.
“But unlike the latest skinny, flared or boyfriend jeans you can’t simply ditch your curves because they are ‘out of date’.
“Of course we can all get fitter and eat more healthily but our body shapes are more or less dictated by our genes.
“So criticising your because you prefer ‘skinny’ isn’t going to magically achieve that – unless of course they make themselves very ill.
“And anyone who genuinely cares for someone would only ever want the best for them.
“As a society we are conditioned to expect men to constantly want sex, whenever it is on offer.
“This assumption does a disservice to many men who genuinely want to get close and feel desired by their partner – not simply sex with any available woman.
“But the reality is that can feel magnified for female partners who believe men should always want sex and especially when it’s on offer.
“For anyone who holds onto these unattainable ideals, not only are you seriously limiting your chances of meeting someone compatible, but you are also disregarding so many other important considerations like do you have similar life goals, common interests, do you like each other.
“Marriage and long term relationships are hard enough when all those other boxes are ticked.
“By distracting yourself with a fantasy partner you really are setting yourself up for disaster.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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