London Northwestern Railway (LNR) is running a competition to name one of the Class 150 trains that now operate services on the Marston Vale Line between Bletchley and Bedford.

The competition is to celebrate the reintroduction of the full timetable and resumption of services, with operator London Northwestern Railway looking for suggestions of names that celebrate people and places along the line.

As well as the competition, London Northwestern Railway is also offering tickets at up to a 90% discount on the usual fare, depending on the journey.

The full service on the line ceased in December 2022 when the company that maintained the Class 230 trains previously used on the line entered administration.

A partial service resumed last November when a replacement train fleet was reintroduced; a full service resumed on the line on Monday, 19 February.

The Class 150 trains now being used on the route were transferred to the line from Northern.

Competition entries can be made online or by completing an entry form that is available at the Heritage Centre and Tea Room at Ridgmont Station.

The entries will be judged by a panel from London Northwestern Railway and the Marston Vale Community Partnership, and the contest winner will be invited to attend the Official Naming Ceremony which will be held at Bletchley Station.

The closing date for entries is next Monday, 4 March, and more details about the competition and how to enter can be found by clicking here to visit their website.

Cara Higgs, LNR community strategy manager, said: “We are delighted to celebrate the return of the full timetable on the Marston Vale Line by offering the opportunity to name a train on the route. We are looking forward to seeing the suggestions and holding the official naming ceremony after the competition closes.

“We are also running a major ticket offer on the line. For the next three months, a single journey between any two stations on the Marston Vale Line will cost just £1 or 50p for children.”