Train naming triumph rewarded with first-class castle visit
A Carmarthenshire schoolboy and his family enjoyed a complimentary visit to Carew Castle during the Easter holidays, thanks to his success in a national train naming competition.
Rhys Protheroe, a Year 5 pupil at Johnstown Primary School in Carmarthen, took part in the Transport for Wales (TfW) Magnificent Train Journey competition, which offered primary school pupils the opportunity to become part of railway history by suggesting names for a fleet of new Class 197 trains.
Names had to be based on a real place, landmark, historical site, or mythical figure associated with places within the Wales and Borders network, and Rhys’s suggestion of Carew Castle Express proved a winner.
Manager of Carew Castle, Daisy Hughes, said:
“We were thrilled to hear that Carew Castle had made such an impression on Rhys that he wanted to name a train after the site. TfW’s Magnificent Train Journey competition has been a wonderful way of encouraging young people to think about the rich history and folklore of Wales – and the places that are special to them.
“It was a pleasure to invite Rhys and his family to Carew and present him with a goody bag, and we hope that the name of the new train inspires many more travellers to pay a visit and discover the Castle’s fascinating past.”
The Carew Castle Express forms part of a fleet of new Class 197 trains, which offer greater capacity and enhanced on-board comfort and will become the backbone of TfW mainline services.
Carew Castle and Tidal Mill, winner of Pembrokeshire Visitor Attraction of the Year in last year’s Visit Pembrokeshire’s Croeso Awards, is run by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. It is open every day between 10am and 4.30pm (last entry at 4pm) and will host a packed programme of events throughout the summer. For further details visit www.carewcastle.com.
