Govia Thameslink Railway has unveiled three re-branded trains paying tribute to the NHS staff fighting the Coronavirus pandemic.
The launch of the re-branded trains coincided with the weekly Clap For Carers.
The re-branded NHS and Key Worker trains show off the brand's ‘We're With You' promise.
Steve White, Chief Operating Officer at Govia Thameslink Railway, said:
“We are proud to be supporting the NHS, social care and emergency services during this crisis. We hope that our NHS and Key Worker trains show how grateful we are to those working so very hard to keep people safe and beat this virus. There are more than 50 hospitals across our network and we are carrying more than 200,000 key workers each week. The team at GTR appreciates each and every one of them. I am also really proud of our teams, key staff themselves, who have worked so hard to support this project.”
The already branded Thameslink Class 700 train is unit number 700111 – coinciding with the NHS' 111 advice line, will be joined by Southern Railway unit number 377111 and Great Northern 717011 (they are only 25 717s in the UK!)
The new train liveries were designed, created and installed in less than a week by the team from Aura Brand Solutions.
What did the officials say?
Head of Engineering and Asset Management at GTR, Dave Hickson said:
“This has been a fabulous project that the teams have really embraced. Everyone wants to do their bit to show their appreciation for the NHS and carers.”
Tim Locke, Rail Director at Aura Brand Solutions, added:
“It's been a pleasure to work on this project with Govia Thameslink to help highlight and support the incredible work the NHS is doing during these unprecedented times. At Aura Brand Solutions, we have remained operational, albeit with a reduced workforce. It's enabled us to continue to support our customers providing essential services with items such as social distancing floor graphics, safety-critical labelling and livery for the core transport infrastructure and the emergency services across the UK. We wrapped the trains using the latest sustainable non-PVC branding technology from 3M.”
Mary Grant, Porterbrook CEO, said:
“Porterbrook is proud to work with GTR and industry partners to show our support for NHS staff, as well as front-line railway colleagues who do so much to help safely move key-workers at this critical time.”
Andy Pitt, CEO Cross London Trains added:
“Cross London Trains is delighted to be able to support GTR and show our gratitude for all NHS staff and other key workers who are playing such a vital role during this very challenging time.”
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Well done Govia Thameslink Railway. Maybe other train operators could do the same thing with their trains numbered with “xxx111”.
What is happening with GTR (Govia Thameslink Railway) next year if they are to lose the TSGN (Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern) franchise or will they extend the franchise.
With Gatwick Express to be retained and part of the Southern franchise if Southern was to split from the “TSGN” franchise and Thameslink & Great Northern to split as separate train operators or to remain as “TGN” franchise or rebranded as “TLGN” franchise in 2021.
I feel the money wasted on self congratulatory advertising could maybe have been utilised better on quietly and without fanfare making a donation to the NHS to help fund the purchase of all the equipment they tell us they need. I wonder how much cash has been spent on blue lighting for buildings, viaducts etc.