FREEBIES handed out to First Capital Connect (FCC) passengers at London train stations are supposed to help raise awareness about impending engineer works. Bottles of water, travel wallets and teabags are among the free gifts FCC is distributing to commu

FREEBIES handed out to First Capital Connect (FCC) passengers at London train stations are supposed to help raise awareness about impending engineer works.

Bottles of water, travel wallets and teabags are among the free gifts FCC is distributing to commuters returning to St Albans, Harpenden and Radlett as part of the scheme, and it is hoped that passengers will visit the FCC website links printed on the accompanying labels.

Over the next year many London stations will face temporary closure as part of the Government's new £5.5 billion plan to improve the Thameslink train service. Those areas affected include the Farringdon to Moorgate line, which will be closed in March 2009 because the platform at Farringdon is being extended to accommodate longer trains.

A spokesperson from the FCC said that the works - which won't be completely finished until 2015 - were a "necessary evil" to solve the problem of overcrowding on commuter trains.

He added: "It is our duty to raise awareness about how the up-and-coming engineering works will affect train travellers. The very bold and distinctive stripes on our freebies are designed to attract attention. Wherever train users see the stripy sign, they'll know that the latest information about train works is nearby.