National Rail "On the Train, You Can" Advert | Playing the Best Man
In September 2025 I had the opportunity to appear in National Rail's "On the Train, You Can" campaign, playing Liam, who’s struggling to write his best man speech during his train journey.
Watch Eric Kole in the National Rail commercial campaign “On The Train You Can”
Directed by Ben Liam Jones and produced by Merman Branded for Rail Delivery Group through TMW, the campaign has since appeared across UK television, cinemas, social media, digital advertising and, more recently, during ITV's coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The fun part: almost every train scene was shot while travelling between London Liverpool Street and Southend, making the journey multiple times throughout the shoot. It meant coordinating a full cast and crew inside a moving train while trying to capture performances that felt completely natural.
Seeing the campaign continue to appear months after filming has been a lovely reminder of how long the life of a commercial can be.
It went on to appear across UK television, cinemas, social media, digital advertising and during ITV's coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. One of the unexpected highlights was receiving messages from friends whenever they spotted it- whether that was on the large digital billboard at London Euston, in the cinema, on TV or while browsing online.
Production: Merman Branded
Agency: TMW Agency
Casting: Beast Casting
Cast: Eric Kole, Emma Lau, Ethan Ilori, Bingley Bedford
Director: Ben Liam Jones
DOP: Stuart Bentley
Executive Producer: Spencer Dodd
Producer: Jess Bell
Production Manager: Jacqui Pringle
Production Assistant: Alexa Hartley
1st AD: Bailey Marks
2nd AD: Jess Horne
Runners: Kai Rajakulasingam, Edie Kelly, Guy Lewis, Zarife Sevin, Suzy Larke
1st AC: Miraed Albiston
2nd AC: Esther Edusi
Camera Trainee: Amaal Blake
Camera Operator: Linda Wu
Video Playback: Chaz Northam
Key Grip: Alfie Wentzl
Grip Assistant: Martin Palmer
Gaffer: Paul Allen
Production Designer: Ashling Johnson
Costume Designer: Lydia Kovacs
Wardrobe Assistants: Amy Prior, Gabby Edmunds
Hair & Makeup: AJ Juttla-Mullan, Anya McDevitt, @Nakiya Brown
Prop Master: Lester Hill
Location Manager: Joseph Storelli
Location Assistants: Wayne Green
Post-Prod: Ten Three
Editor: Elena De Palma
