‘All aboard the love train’ - man proposes to partner on service to Milton Keynes one year after they first met
A man has proposed to his partner on a train to Milton Keynes one year after they first met onboard the same service.
Steve Higgs, 56, met Payal Pandya, 49, on the 11.09pm London Northwestern Railway service from Euston to Milton Keynes in November 2024.
The pair chatted for around 20 minutes after Steve offered Payal his seat on the train, before going their separate ways.
Steve later contacted Payal to ask her out on a date, before their relationship blossomed.
Things came full circle last month when exactly a year later, the couple boarded the same service together following a night out in London.
After giving the rail company the heads-up on his plans, an announcement from the conductor was the cue for Steve to get down on one knee and pop the question.
Steve, who is from Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire recalled: “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, who is from Harrow in London said: “I’d told Steve I’d met my date for that night on the app.
“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 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!”
Steve and Payal currently live separately but are planning to move in together next year, and are hoping their wedding can take place in the summer of 2026.
Customer experience director at London Northwestern Railway Jonny Wiseman 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 onboard with the wedding plans and said yes.
“I want to say huge congratulations to them both and that we wish them the very best for their future together.”