UK: Govia Thameslink Railway has applied special branding to three electric multiple-units in tribute to National Health Service staff fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
‘There are more than 50 hospitals across our network and we are carrying more than 200 000 key workers each week’, said GTR Chief Operating Officer Steve White on April 16.
The operator has opted to brand Siemens Mobility Desiro City EMU number 700 111 from its Thameslink route and Bombardier Transportation Electrostar unit 377 111 from its Southern services in recognition of the NHS’s 111 telephone advice line; the selected Great Northern route EMU is number 717 011, as there are only 25 of the Siemens Class 717 suburban units.
The initiative has been part-funded by fleet owners Porterbrook and Cross London Trains, with the branding designed, created and installed in less than a week by Aura Brand Solutions and GTR.
‘It’s been a pleasure to work on this project’, said Tim Locke, Rail Director at Aura Brand Solutions. ‘We have remained operational, albeit with a reduced workforce. It’s enabled us to continue to support our customers providing essential services with items such as social distancing floor graphics, safety-critical labelling and livery for the core transport infrastructure and the emergency services across the UK. We wrapped the trains using the latest sustainable non-PVC branding technology from 3M.’
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