People across Hastings, Battle and the wider East Sussex community are being invited to help name a Southeastern train inspired by the story of 1066, with voting opening this week at Hastings and Battle stations.
As part of Southeastern's support for the Bayeux Tapestry's arrival at the British Museum, customers, railway staff and communities have the chance to leave a lasting mark on the railway by choosing the name of a Class 375 train that will carry artwork inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry.
Voting is open until 25 July to anyone working at or travelling through Hastings or Battle stations. The winning name will be announced later this summer before being unveiled on the train in Hastings this September.
Four names inspired by figures and locations linked to the Battle of Hastings have been shortlisted, reflecting the area’s connection to the events depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry.
They are:
- Norman
- King Harold
- Senlac
- The Conqueror
Visitors to either station can collect a token and cast their vote can collect a at the ballot boxes on the station concourse. Around 10,000 voting tokens are available.
Kevin Warn, Southeastern’s General Manager, South, said:
"Customers travelling through Hastings and Battle can now take part and have their say in naming one of our trains, linking their journeys with the area's history.
"The Battle of Hastings is known around the world, so it's fitting that residents have the chance to choose a name celebrating the area's remarkable heritage.
"We're looking forward to seeing which name captures people's imagination, while helping local schoolchildren experience the Bayeux Tapestry for themselves at the British Museum."
The public vote forms part of a wider partnership supporting the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition. Southeastern is providing 1,066 free rail tickets for schoolchildren from Hastings and Rother, helping ensure travel costs are not a barrier to experiencing the exhibition first-hand.
Once unveiled, the newly named train will carry artwork inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry as it travels across the Southeastern network, celebrating East Sussex's place in a key moment of English history while encouraging visitors to discover the exhibition in London.
