Love on the Late Train: Couple Get Engaged Where They First Met
By Human Interest Correspondent
Exactly one year after meeting on a late-night train from London, a couple returned to the same service to relive their first encounter — and, unbeknown to the bride-to-be, set the stage for a surprise proposal.
What could have been a fleeting conversation turned into a 100-mph love story when Steve Higgs, 56, met Payal Pandya, 49, on the 23:09 London Northwestern Railway (LNR) service from Euston towards Milton Keynes in November 2024.
A year on, after a night out in London, the pair boarded the same 23:09 service — this time to the delight of fellow passengers, Steve got down on one knee and popped the question.
The train operator was in on the plan after Steve contacted London Northwestern Railway in advance. During the journey, the conductor made a special announcement hinting at what was about to happen, prompting Steve to seize his moment.
Steve Higgs, from Leighton Buzzard, said:
“I first met Payal when I offered her my seat on the train after I’d been out for a few drinks with friends. I’m always up for chatting with people when I’m travelling and so I struck up a conversation. I remember she mentioned she’d just been on a first date where – luckily for me - sparks had failed to fly. Although we were only speaking for twenty minutes or so, I knew I wanted to see her again.”
Payal Pandya, from Harrow, said:
“I’d told Steve I’d met my date for that night on the apps. Shortly after I got off at my local station in Harrow, he’d found my dating profile and sent me a message. We set up our first date not too long after and the rest is history.
“We always joke that the 23:09 LNR service marks our ‘encounter-versary’ – the moment we first met. I can’t believe Steve asked me to marry him on that same service and managed to get the conductor involved without me knowing!”
Although the couple currently live separately, they plan to move in together next year before wedding preparations gather pace, with hopes of tying the knot in the summer.
The move will also unite their two pets — Bruno the Italian Greyhound and Zen the Cavapoo.
Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at London Northwestern Railway, said:
“When Steve got in touch with our customer relations team, we knew we had to help with his request for a special announcement. 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.
“We’re delighted to hear that Payal was on-board with the wedding plans and said yes. I want to say a huge congratulations to them both and that we wish them the very best for their future together.”
To find out more about railway journeys with LNR, visit www.lnr.uk
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While Steve and Payal currently live separately, they plan to move in together next year before it’s full steam ahead on wedding preparations, with hopes to be married in the summer. Not only will this bring Steve and Payal under one roof, it’ll also unite their two pets – Bruno the Italian Greyhound and Zen the Cavapoo.
Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at London Northwestern Railway, said: “When Steve got in touch with our customer relations team, we knew we had to help with his request for a special announcement. 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.
“We’re delighted to hear that Payal was on-board with the wedding plans and said yes. I want to say a huge congratulations to them both and that we wish them the very best for their future together.”
To find out more about railway journeys with LNR, visit www.lnr.uk .
