Southeastern today unveiled King Harold II, a newly named train celebrating the story of 1066, as local schoolchildren travelled from Hastings to London to become some of the first young people from the area to see the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum.
The name was chosen by around 6,000 people from Hastings and Battle in a public vote, the four-car Class 375 carries specially commissioned artwork depicting iconic scenes from the 1066 story, as told by the Bayeux Tapestry, and will travel across the Southeastern network over the coming year.
Alongside the commemorative artwork, the train features the new GBR I South Eastern logo, revealing for the first time the new name for Southeastern under Great British Railways.
The unveiling took place at Hastings station, where 40 children and staff from Mulberry Baird Primary School boarded a Southeastern service to London to become some of the first young people from the area to visit the Tapestry, with 11 of the children making their first ever trip to the capital.
Their journey marks the start of Southeastern's programme providing 1,066 complimentary rail tickets for local schoolchildren, helping more young people access a once-in-a-generation cultural event and learn about the area's unique place in British history.
Twenty schools have already applied for tickets, almost 800 places allocated so far. The tickets are designed to help remove barriers to educational travel while encouraging children to learn more about the history on their doorstep.
Helena Dollimore MP, Member of Parliament for Hastings, Rye and the villages said:
"It was fantastic to wave off pupils from Baird Primary on their way to the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum in London. Although Hastings has often been at the centre of historical events, we have not always felt the benefits. That is why I have been working with South Eastern to secure 1,066 free train tickets for local schools to access the exhibition and improve transport links to our area so that more tourists can discover 1066 Country during this time we are enjoying in the national spotlight.
"Securing a faster train service for our town has been one of my top priorities as our local MP, and I am so pleased that a new fast service from Hastings to London will be launching in December. This is great news for commuters and for our local shops, hotels, pubs, and restaurants that rely on tourists coming down to visit us."
Steve White, South Eastern Railway’s Managing Director, said:
"The Bayeux Tapestry's return to the UK is a special moment in our history; and for communities with deep roots in that history, like ours, it means even more. As a purpose-led organisation, giving back to our communities is central to what we do, which is why, with the backing of the local MP, we wanted to provide school children free tickets so they could see the tapestry for themselves.
“King Harold II wasn't a name chosen in a boardroom - it was selected by local people from Battle and Hastings, and it belongs to the people within the communities we serve. We're incredibly proud that our newly decorated train will be running across our network for the next year marking the tapestry’s historic stay at the British Museum”.
The special train was unveiled by community leaders including Helena Dollimore MP, who has been working with Southeastern on the campaign to enable young people from Hastings to access the special exhibition at the British Museum, local councillors, the British Museum, English Heritage and the 1066 Community Rail Partnership.
The ticket programme is the latest in the delivery of Southeastern’s wider commitment to helping young people access opportunity, jobs and education across its network. The railway operator supports around 500 apprentices each year and has invested more than £700,000 in community projects over the last three years on projects to tackle social exclusion, improve wellbeing and improve social mobility.
