To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings, South Western Railway dedicated one of its trains to the D-Day Story Museum in Portsmouth at a special event held yesterday, Tuesday, 4th June, at Portsmouth Harbour station.

Among those attending the event were local school children, South Western Railway colleagues, the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Royal Navy sailors, and the General Manager of the D-Day Story Museum.

South Western Railway’s Desiro train No. 444-040 travelled from London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour for the naming, with the train guard being Guards Inspector Andy Dennis, who served in the Army for 22 years after joining up at the age of 19.

At platform 3 at Portsmouth Harbour station, the train with its new vinyl was greeted by the waving of Union Flags, 30 children from local schools including a brass band from Petersfield School who played rousing wartime tunes and pupils from the Priory School in Fratton, and a line of Royal Navy sailors from His Majesty’s Naval Base, Portsmouth.

Peter Williams, South Western Railway’s Customer and Commercial Director, presented a matching nameplate to Councillor Jason Fazackarley, the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth.

Peter Williams and the Lord Mayor made suitable speeches for the occasion alongside Greg Kotecha, South Western Railway’s Head of Engineering, who served in the Army for seven years, and Captain Lee McLocklan from His Majesty’s Naval Base, Portsmouth.

After the ceremony, all the children visited the D-Day Museum where they learned about D-Day, and the major role that Portsmouth played during the Second World War in the liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany occupation, using the personal possessions and words of the people who took part. South Western Railway has also sponsored the full admission cost of 100 children to the museum.

The railway was vitally important for making the Normandy Landings a success, as it had done throughout the war, moving service personnel and vast quantities of equipment, vehicles, and supplies to the South Coast for the invasion.

The train naming ceremony was held in advance of a national event commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day taking place on Southsea Common today, Wednesday, 5th June, whilst tomorrow, Thursday, 6th June, international commemorations will take place in Normandy.

We are proud to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings by dedicating one of our trains to the D-Day Story Museum in Portsmouth.

D-Day holds such significance in the history of the whole world. Portsmouth, one of the key cities we serve on our network, played an important role in that heroic operation.

Ensuring that the bravery of those who took part is never forgotten is a mission we eagerly support, which is why we are so pleased to be sponsoring the admission of 100 children to the museum.

The railway was vitally important for making the Normandy Landings a success, and members of the Armed Forces community continue to make an invaluable contribution to the railway today, including many colleagues in SWR.

Peter Williams, Customer and Commercial Director at South Western Railway