To kick off the start of December and Christmas, Virgin Trains has just unveiled its two Christmas Trains at London’s iconic King’s Cross station amidst hundreds of turned heads. Side by side for the first time, a Pendolino (now the Penguilino) and a Class 91 (the Claus 91) have been made up to sport blue sky liveries instead of Virgin’s famous red.
The specially designed Christmas Trains are actually the result of a nationwide competition for schoolchildren. Launched in partnership with reading charity Book Trust, the competition received hundreds of entries and featured Jill Murphy, celebrated author and illustrator of the popular Worst Witch and Large Family series, as head judge. She and the panel were so impressed by the entries that, in the end, two winners were chosen.
The winners, Amber Maxfield, 9, and Madeleine Deakin, 11, were there on the day to see their festive designs be made reality.
Madeleine, from Copdock in Suffolk, said: “I’m so happy to have won and it was incredible to see my drawing on the train – it’s made me even more excited about Christmas!” Amber, from Carlisle, added: “When I found out I’d won I just couldn’t believe it! Seeing my drawing on a train and coming to London is a dream come true.”
Both the trains bear the name of their respective designer, and will now run on the Virgin Trains network this December, carrying passengers travelling over the holiday period.
Santa selfie
Off duty Father Christmas inspects the Virgin Train
Winners revealed at Kings Cross Station
Madeleine from Copdock in Suffolk and her design used on the Claus 91
Amber from Carlisle poses next to her design used on the Penguilino
