An Avanti West Coast Pendolino that was wrapped in a unique design for the COP26 Climate Change Conference has been named Opportunity following a nationwide search to find a worthy name.
A competition to choose a name was launched on social media last October. It came after the Pendolino was wrapped in a unique design championing rail travel, as part of Avanti West Coast's partnership with Eurostar to transport delegates attending the COP26 Climate Change Conference between Amsterdam and Glasgow.
The successful suggestion of Opportunity, put forward by Kyla Louise Poulton, 18, from Milton Keynes, was selected by a panel of Avanti West Coast representatives from 150 entries.
Kyla explained she took inspiration from Avanti West Coast's Pride Train, which is named Progress. She said: “The name was an idea I had after talking to my friends. We knew about the Progress train name, so I wanted to come up with a name that was on a similar line to that so that they were linked in some way.
“I just thought about how I see the future of transport is being changed by climate change and how trains represent an opportunity to provide low emission transport services,” she added. “It's just very cool to have your chosen name on a train because I use them so much.”
There was also a contest to design an emblem to adorn Opportunity's nameplate. That was was won by 10-year-old Luca Fazakerley from Liverpool, who created the artwork themed on what the planet meant to him.
Luca, speaking about his winning design, said: “I just couldn't believe it when I was told I won the competition.”
He continued: “When I see the train out on the line with my picture on it, I'll be like: ‘I made that. That's mine!'”
Kyla and Luca have been presented with their own replica nameplates, whilst the original will be attached to Pendolino No. 390121 in the coming weeks.
Video of Kyla and Luca talking about their winning entries.
Earlier this month Avanti West Coast and Eurostar were recognised with a special honour at the prestigious Golden Whistle Awards for their efforts to showcase rail during COP26 with the Climate Train. The journey saw hundreds of delegates arrive at St Pancras on a Eurostar train from Amsterdam to connect with a landline at Euston taking them to Glasgow.
Alongside Avanti West Coast and Eurostar, the Climate Train was organised in collaboration with Dutch rail operators NS and ProRail, as well as Youth for Sustainable Travel.
Opportunity is also covered with a vinyl wrap bearing slogans including “Our planet means the world to us” and “Ride against climate change”. The wrap was applied with the support of Aura Graphics, train builder Alstom, and rolling stock company Angel Trains who own and invest in the Pendolino fleet.
Avanti West Coast, Alstom, and Angel Trains have also recently signed an agreement to work together to use Opportunity as a trial train to investigate the reduction of the carbon impact of the Pendolino fleet. In turn, that will allow the West Coast Main Line to provide a sustainable, safe, and attractive transport journey for passengers.
The announcement comes as Avanti West Coast hosts its Sustainability Week, which is designed to share stories internally and externally about its efforts to make rail travel greener, recognising initiatives it has delivered over the last 12 months, and how it plans to build on these.
Head of Sustainability at Avanti West Coast, Gareth Williams, said: “Kyla couldn't have picked a more fitting name and Luca's emblem looks fantastic.
“Opportunity showcases our commitment to climate change and protecting our planet. As the train travels up and down the West Coast Main Line it will provide a constant reminder that we can all do more to reduce our carbon emissions and one simple step could be taking the train, as a low carbon form of transport, to ‘ride against climate change'.”
Very nice Avanti West Coast.