BIG-hearted rail customers and employees across West Dunbartonshire have helped raise almost £330,000 for two charities.

The ScotRail Alliance and MND Scotland marked the second anniversary of their partnership by announcing that they have smashed their three-year target in under two years after a whopping £198,307 was raised to combat Motor Neurone Disease.

The partnership with the charity, which is working to find a cure for the terminal disease, set a target of raising £50,000 for each year of the three-year agreement.

Over the past two years, people from ScotRail and Network Rail Scotland have taken part in range of events, including sponsored skydives, abseils from the Forth Rail Bridge, walking on fire and broken glass, and ‘dress down’ days to help reach the figure.

Collections were held across the network, with more than 350 donation tins placed at stations raising £16,000.

The famous clock in Glasgow Central station was lit up blue with the MND cornflower logo, and the charity has also been given free access to advertising spaces on trains and at stations.

READ MORE: Doddie Weir portrait raises almost £100,000 for motor neurone disease charity

Meanwhile, rail passengers from Dumbarton and the Vale helped Scotrail smash their fundraising record for the Scottish Poppy Appeal last year.

The train company announced that £130,000 was raised for Poppyscotland, up 25% per cent on the previous record set in 2017 of £95,293.

Poppyscotland provides a range of welfare services for current and former personnel of the armed forces.

Scotrail Alliance supported the cause by collecting donations from passengers, offering free on duty travel for Poppyscotland staff and providing retail space for the charity’s ‘Poppy-up’ shops in three of its busiest stations.

Sophie Nightingale, ScotRail Alliance Community Investment Manager, said: “It’s fantastic for the ScotRail Alliance to have raised a record £130,000 for the Scottish Poppy Appeal, and we’re honoured to be able to play a part in that.”

Gordon Michie, of Poppyscotland, also praised “the generosity of ScotRail and its customers”.