Chelmsford 'City Status' Celebrated as Greater Anglia Names a Locomotive 'City of Chelmsford'

Published on: Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Train operator Greater Anglia has marked Chelmsford’s status as a Diamond Jubilee City with The Mayor of Chelmsford, Councillor Christopher Kingsley naming a Class 90 locomotive ‘City of Chelmsford’ in a ceremony held at London Liverpool Street station today, Tuesday 23 April.

Chelmsford was officially granted ‘City Status’ last year as part of HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee commemorations and as the busiest station on the Greater Anglia network (apart from Liverpool Street) with over 5.5m train journeys last year, naming one of the locomotives that operates on the GE mainline route ‘City of Chelmsford’ recognises its importance as Essex’s County Town and a key gateway to the City of London.

Councillor Ron Alcock of Chelmsford City Council approached Greater Anglia last year with a request to name a locomotive ‘City of Chelmsford’ in honour of the new ‘City Status’ being awarded. Mr Alcock met with Ruud Haket to discuss the locomotive train naming, which Greater Anglia was pleased to agree to and to be part of this celebration.

The naming also maintains a strong tradition for Greater Anglia and previous train operators in the region to name trains after important places, people or organisations in East Anglia, reflecting the important cultural and historical heritage of the region.

Ruud Haket, Managing Director, Greater Anglia said: “We’re delighted to name a locomotive City of Chelmsford marking the importance of Chelmsford as a thriving regional centre and gateway to London. Many thousands of our customers commute daily from the station and we’re proud to recognise City Status for Chelmsford in this way.”

Rail Minister and Chelmsford MP Simon Burns said: “Chelmsford is a thriving city with a thriving rail network which through the determination of local partners and the Government’s wider commitment to transform the railways will continue to prosper as a vital regional hub.

“Having worked so hard for it, I was extremely proud when Chelmsford was granted City Status last year and as Rail Minister I take further delight that Greater Anglia have chosen to mark this achievement with this naming ceremony.”

Councillor Ron Alcock said: “It just feels right that after being bestowed with such an honour as City Status, we are now celebrating with the naming of a locomotive that we can all enjoy seeing pass through the station each day. The railway has brought great economic benefits to Chelmsford, enabling our skilled workforce to commute in and out of the city each day.”