Your chance to name special Hastings Bayeux Tapestry train

And rail passengers have an opportunity to vote on what name the train will have. Special ballot boxes have gone up at Hastings and Battle stations along with 10,000 plastic voting tokens.

People can choose from four names – Harold, Norman, Senlac or The Conqueror.

The scheme was unveiled on Wednesday July 15 and people have until July 25 to cast their vote.

Kevin Warn, general manager for South Eastern passenger services, said: “It’s a bit of fun but it is also a way of engaging with history and with our passengers. The railway itself recently celebrated 200 years of history.”

The new train livery ties in with South Eastern providing 1,066 free train tickets for local children to travel to London and view the tapestry exhibition when it opens in to the public in September.

This followed a request from Hastings and Rye MP Helena Dollimore. So far around 15 schools across Hastings and Rother have expressed an interest and 500 tickets have been given away.

David Gazet, senior media relations manager for South Eastern, said: “We are really excited to be naming one of our trains in honour of this occasion and to be able to help local children to view the Bayeux Tapestry.

Hastings Station manager Harry Stevens added: “It is important for us to have local people decide what the name of the train will be and fantastic for us to be able to engage with them. We are so glad to be a part of it.”

There will be a special train name unveiling event in September.