WHITLEY resident Pete Waterman surprised Eurovision fans on a specially-themed train that headed to the song contest.
The music titan is a keen railway enthusiast, and hopped onboard the Eurovision Avanti service that sped from London Euston into Liverpool ahead of the contest kicking off.
Waterman, who has writing credits on songs such as 'Never Gonna Give You Up,' by Rick Astley, and 'I Should Be So Lucky,' by Kylie Minogue, recounted his own Eurovision stories to more than 100 fans on the train.
Looking after the fans was train manager Jan Fuller-Green, himself a member of fans’ group OGAE and a veteran of two Eurovision events in Stockholm and Lisbon.
He said: “Having travelled around Europe it's amazing to have the competition on our doorstep.
"It’s such an honour for me to look after the superfans today. Such amazing tales, all united by the love of Eurovision and music.”
Guests, with the help of Network Rail and Liverpool City Council, were welcomed at Lime Street station by Lord Mayor Cllr Roy Gladden, drag queen Jonny Woo, along with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and culture minister Stuart Andrew.
The group was then serenaded by the English National Opera with ABBA’s hit Waterloo - which won the contest in Brighton, in 1974.
Those who attended were all members of the Organisation des Amateurs de l’Eurovision, or OGAE for short, the largest Eurovision Song Contest fan network in the world.
Simon Bennett, president of OGAE International and secretary of OGAE UK said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be partnered with Avanti West Coast and to give our members a chance to travel to Liverpool in style.
"The atmosphere in Liverpool is already fantastic but this means our members can get the party started even before they arrive in the city."
Nicola Ryder, commercial partnerships manager at Avanti West Coast said: “We’re incredibly proud to play our part in getting this group of dedicated fans to and from Eurovision.
"Liverpool always guarantees a friendly welcome, the home of so many great musicians over the years making it the perfect venue to host this year’s event on behalf of the people of Ukraine.”
“The atmosphere on the journey north was amazing and we have no doubt our guests will have a Eurovision to remember.”
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