Thank you Key Workers
On its first day in service, GWR's special livery IET 802020, ‘thanking key workers and celebrating diversity’, departs from Stonehouse with its nose doors open, forming 1L72 1058 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington on 3rd July 2020.
Thank you to SK for the gen!
Great Western Railway (GWR) today unveiled a special livery train thanking key workers for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With a theme of ‘The Nation Says Thank You’, the special design, inspired by the company’s design a train competition, features words of gratitude in 116 different languages used by those living across the GWR network.
The livery, carried by Intercity Express Train, IET 802020, incorporates the ideas of three teenagers who entered a competition on GWR’s social media channels to design a train livery.
Sam Smith, 13, from Gloucestershire, suggested the words ‘The nation says thank you’; Sam Moorey, 15, from Newton Abbot, proposed saying ‘thank you’ in different languages; and Ned Thompson, 16, of Guildford, crafted the overall design.
GWR worked with local authorities and NHS trusts to ensure the diversity of communities across the network was represented. The livery features 109 speech bubbles, using 116 languages from at least 166 countries.
GWR's special livery train was unveiled two days before the final NHS clap on Sunday 5 July at 1700, to applaud all those who have helped through the pandemic.
The ‘design a special train livery’ competition was judged by Railway Historian and broadcaster Tim Dunn, who said it was a tough task settling on the final design.
Tim said: “Everyone is incredibly grateful to those key workers, including the railway family, who have been working tirelessly to help us through the pandemic.
Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “GWR has chosen a great combination of designs and I am pleased to see the rail industry saying “thank you” in such a great diversity of languages.
“This serves as an excellent reminder of the hard work of so many people in our NHS and so many other crucial industries, and I am delighted to join with GWR and add my thanks to all the key workers across the nation.”
GWR Head of External Communications Dan Panes said: “We wanted to give people the opportunity to express their thanks to key workers in a unique way. This design on one of our Intercity Express Trains will provide a lasting tribute to the selfless dedication of all those who have given everything to help us through these unprecedented times.”
The special livery has been funded by rolling stock leasing company, Eversholt Rail, and Intercity Express Train manufacturer Hitachi Rail.
Mary Kenny, Chief Executive Officer at Eversholt Rail, said: “We are proud to support Great Western Railway with this fantastic initiative to thank all of the key workers who have supported the country throughout these difficult times. The number of fantastic entries to the competition shows that so many people appreciate the hard work and dedication of our key workers and want to say ‘thank you’. Congratulations to the two Sams and Ned for their winning entries.”
Andy Radford, UK Projects Director at Hitachi Rail, said: “We have seen first-hand the resilience of key workers, either as passengers using our trains for essential travel or rail staff who kept trains running safely during the peak of the pandemic.
“Hitachi Rail is proud to be part of this fitting tribute, but equally delighted to be giving passengers a reason to smile.”
GWR continues to remind customers to follow social distancing guidance. As well as wearing a face covering, planning ahead and avoiding peak travel times where possible, customers are urged to buy tickets online, on a smart card or by using the GWR app.
Thank you Key Workers
On its first day in service, GWR's special livery IET 802020, ‘thanking key workers and celebrating diversity’, departs from Stonehouse with its nose doors open, forming 1L72 1058 Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington on 3rd July 2020.
Thank you to SK for the gen!
Great Western Railway (GWR) today unveiled a special livery train thanking key workers for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With a theme of ‘The Nation Says Thank You’, the special design, inspired by the company’s design a train competition, features words of gratitude in 116 different languages used by those living across the GWR network.
The livery, carried by Intercity Express Train, IET 802020, incorporates the ideas of three teenagers who entered a competition on GWR’s social media channels to design a train livery.
Sam Smith, 13, from Gloucestershire, suggested the words ‘The nation says thank you’; Sam Moorey, 15, from Newton Abbot, proposed saying ‘thank you’ in different languages; and Ned Thompson, 16, of Guildford, crafted the overall design.
GWR worked with local authorities and NHS trusts to ensure the diversity of communities across the network was represented. The livery features 109 speech bubbles, using 116 languages from at least 166 countries.
GWR's special livery train was unveiled two days before the final NHS clap on Sunday 5 July at 1700, to applaud all those who have helped through the pandemic.
The ‘design a special train livery’ competition was judged by Railway Historian and broadcaster Tim Dunn, who said it was a tough task settling on the final design.
Tim said: “Everyone is incredibly grateful to those key workers, including the railway family, who have been working tirelessly to help us through the pandemic.
Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “GWR has chosen a great combination of designs and I am pleased to see the rail industry saying “thank you” in such a great diversity of languages.
“This serves as an excellent reminder of the hard work of so many people in our NHS and so many other crucial industries, and I am delighted to join with GWR and add my thanks to all the key workers across the nation.”
GWR Head of External Communications Dan Panes said: “We wanted to give people the opportunity to express their thanks to key workers in a unique way. This design on one of our Intercity Express Trains will provide a lasting tribute to the selfless dedication of all those who have given everything to help us through these unprecedented times.”
The special livery has been funded by rolling stock leasing company, Eversholt Rail, and Intercity Express Train manufacturer Hitachi Rail.
Mary Kenny, Chief Executive Officer at Eversholt Rail, said: “We are proud to support Great Western Railway with this fantastic initiative to thank all of the key workers who have supported the country throughout these difficult times. The number of fantastic entries to the competition shows that so many people appreciate the hard work and dedication of our key workers and want to say ‘thank you’. Congratulations to the two Sams and Ned for their winning entries.”
Andy Radford, UK Projects Director at Hitachi Rail, said: “We have seen first-hand the resilience of key workers, either as passengers using our trains for essential travel or rail staff who kept trains running safely during the peak of the pandemic.
“Hitachi Rail is proud to be part of this fitting tribute, but equally delighted to be giving passengers a reason to smile.”
GWR continues to remind customers to follow social distancing guidance. As well as wearing a face covering, planning ahead and avoiding peak travel times where possible, customers are urged to buy tickets online, on a smart card or by using the GWR app.