SOUTH Western Railway (SWR) has named one of its trains for the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, also known as D-Day, during a colourful ceremony at Portsmouth Harbour station.
Earlier this morning, to the fanfare of an assembled brass band and the waving of Union Flags, SWR’s Desiro train number 444-040 was officially dedicated to the D-Day Story Museum in Portsmouth.
The ceremonial naming was attended by local school children, SWR colleagues, the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, a representative of the Royal Navy, the General Manager of the museum, and others.
The D-Day Story Museum highlights the major role the city played in the liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany occupation during the Second World War, using the personal possessions and words of the people who took part.
As it journeyed from London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour, the train was guarded by SWR Guards Inspector Andy Dennis, who joined the Army at the age of 19 and served for 22 years.
The brass band of children from the Petersfield School played rousing wartime tunes as the train arrived at Platform 3 with its new vinyl, greeted by a line of Royal Navy sailors from His Majesty's Naval Base, Portsmouth.
Peter Williams, SWR’s Customer and Commercial Director, presented a matching name plate to the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Jason Fazackarley.
Peter and the Lord Mayor delivered remarks for the occasion alongside Greg Kotecha, SWR’s Head of Engineering, who also served in the Army for seven years, and Captain Lee McLocklan from the naval base.
The special event was attended by a total of 30 children from local schools, including the band from Petersfield School, as well as pupils from the Priory School in Fratton. After the train naming, all 30 children visited the museum courtesy of SWR.
To help educate the next generation about the bravery of those involved in the largest seaborne invasion in history, SWR has sponsored the full admission cost of 100 children to the museum.
Peter Williams, Customer and Commercial Director at South Western Railway, commented:
“We are proud to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings by dedicating one of our trains to the D-Day Story Museum in Portsmouth.
“D-Day holds such significance in the history of the whole world. Portsmouth, one of the key cities we serve on our network, played an important role in that heroic operation.
“Ensuring that the bravery of those who took part is never forgotten is a mission we eagerly support, which is why we are so pleased to be sponsoring the admission of 100 children to the museum.
“The railway was vitally important for making the Normandy Landings a success, and members of the Armed Forces community continue to make an invaluable contribution to the railway today, including many colleagues in SWR.”
The railway industry is a natural fit for many former members of the Armed Forces, with its fast-paced, safety-critical environment that emphasises skills, operations and teamwork, and its extensive development opportunities, progression and benefits.
SWR has signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant and has an active Armed Forces Network for colleagues with a military background.
The railway was vitally important for making the Normandy Landings a success, as it had done throughout the war, moving service personnel and vast quantities of equipment, vehicles, and supplies to the South Coast for the invasion.
SWR’s train naming event was held in advance of the national event commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day, taking place on Southsea Common tomorrow. On Thursday, an international event will take place in Normandy.
