- LEGO® character ‘Brick Suit Girl’ joins South Western Railway at London Waterloo to name new Arterio train the LEGOLAND Locomotive and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of LEGOLAND Windsor Resort
- South Western Railway marks another major milestone in its Arterio rollout, with the fleet now operating on more than 500 services a day
South Western Railway (SWR) surprised customers at London Waterloo on Tuesday 17 March by unveiling a specially named Arterio train – the ‘LEGOLAND Locomotive’- marking the 30th anniversary – to the day – of the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, the UK’s number one theme park and a key destination on the SWR network.
The colourful train, featuring a vibrant LEGO inspired design, was revealed alongside LEGO character ‘Brick Suit Girl’ at the station before setting off to Windsor & Eton Riverside – the gateway station for families travelling to the iconic theme park.
Thousands of customers have travelled by train to enjoy visits filled with adventure, play and imagination at the Resort since it first opened its doors on 17th March 1996. The LEGOLAND Locomotive celebrates the shared sense of creativity and excitement that both rail travel and LEGO bring to generations of children and families.
For many, the excitement of a day out begins the moment they step onto a train – turning the journey into part of the adventure. Trains like the LEGOLAND Locomotive offer a place where those travelling to attractions can let their imagination run free as they get closer to the destination they will be visiting.
Parenting expert Rachel Kelly explains why train travel can be particularly beneficial for children:
“There’s plenty of research about the importance of creativity in children for their psychological health and wellbeing, and train journeys provide the ideal time and opportunity for imaginative play.
“Being absorbed in things like drawing, doodling, building with LEGO or simply looking out the window to watch the world go by, induces a “flow state”, similar to mindfulness, where worries and stress hormones reduce and positive hormones like dopamine increase.
“Train journeys can provide precious, uninterrupted time away from screens and everyday distractions, allowing children – and parents - to slow down, setting up families up for a fun-filled day out.”
The celebration also marked a significant milestone for SWR’s £1 billion Arterio fleet, which now operates more than 500 services every day across the suburban network. More than 30 additional Arterios are in regular service since SWR transferred to public ownership last year, with 50% more capacity than the trains they replace, helping to transform travel across London and the South West suburban network.
The Arterio fleet – including the LEGOLAND Locomotive – connects customers with exciting events and popular Merlin destinations including Chessington World of Adventures Resort, the London Eye, Thorpe Park and the SEA LIFE London Aquarium.
Fiona Eastwood, Chief Executive Officer of Merlin Entertainments – the parent company of LEGOLAND Windsor Resort – said:
“The unveiling of the LEGOLAND Locomotive is the perfect way to celebrate 30 years of LEGOLAND Windsor Resort. This route brings families to Merlin destinations, from LEGOLAND at one end to our South Bank attractions – including the London Eye – at the other, and Thorpe Park along the way.
“Thanks to South Western Railway, guests can leave the car at home and enjoy memorable visits to a number of Merlin locations both on this route and beyond. And what better way to reach one of our seven attractions than on the LEGOLAND Locomotive!”
Ramesh Ganeson, Merlin’s Vice President of the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, added:
“This Is a fantastic addition to our 30th birthday celebrations. Not only can families look forward to travelling on our Hill Train at the Resort, but they can now begin their LEGOLAND adventure earlier in the day by boarding the eclectic LEGOLAND locomotive to experience an awesome journey of play and creativity, making memories to last a lifetime. I look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to LEGOLAND Windsor Resort this season.”
James Wale, Fleet Director at South Western Railway, said:
“With more than 500 services operated by our Arterio fleet every day, customers across our network are feeling the benefits of these game-changing new trains - whether they’re travelling into London or heading over to Windsor for a visit to LEGOLAND Windsor Resort.
“Naming one our trains the LEGOLAND Locomotive celebrates the idea that train travel is more than simply getting A to B. The railway connects people with the places they love – and the journey is all part of the adventure.
“The LEGOLAND Locomotive and our partnership with Merlin attractions is a fantastic way to mark a major milestone for one of the network’s most popular attractions and highlight the vital role rail plays in connecting communities with great destinations across our region.”
South Western Railway (SWR) Rewards offers 1/3 off 1-day entry tickets to the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort when you travel by train.
